Movie Review: Space Battleship Yamato

When I was in college, one of my roommates recommended Star Blazers to me knowing of my interest in anime. I had never heard of it, but eventually checked it out and loved it. It was an English dub of the Japanese anime Space Battleship Yamato. There were three 26-episode seasons and several animated movies in the franchise.

Space Battleship Yamato is a 2010 Japanese science fiction, action, adventure, live action film based on the 1974 anime series of the same name. It was recently released in English in a Blu Ray/DVD combo pack as both a dubbed and subtitled movie. It is rated PG-13 and is appropriate for teenagers and up due to language, violence, and death.

The Good

Special Effects. One of the main aspects the trailers and other promotional materials featured were the special effects. They were top notch and impressive, something one doesn't usually expect from live action Japanese productions that are famous for Power Ranger like battles scenes and creatures. The ships felt real, the space battles exciting, and the costumes top quality. The space jumps were well done. The dying Earth looked like they put some thought into it. The aliens were cool, unique, and threatening.

Action. The action was really exciting and intense, albeit a little short and repetitive. But for a Japanese film, it was much better than I was expecting. There were space battles between large ships, dog fights between single-man fighters, hand-to-hand combat, ground battles, and more.

Characters. The characters in the original series had a lot of personality and interaction. The actors cast in this live action adaption did an excellent job of capturing the spirit of the originals while still bringing something new to the table and presenting the characters in a way that worked for a live action movie. The acting for the most part was well done. (The captain was a little stodgy and the marine over the top, but not so much it ruined the movie.) The filmmakers devoted sufficient time to the interactions between major characters to really develop them, their back stories, and their relationships so that the viewer knew and cared about each and every one.

Faithfulness / Adaption. This film was a 2+ hour adaption of a 12+ hour anime series, so you know a lot of things had to be cut out. Too often it doesn't turn out well. But not with this movie. The choices made by the filmmakers were brilliant and wise. They selected the essential parts, themes, characters, and scenes from the anime that I didn't feel like I was being cheated out of anything. And they left everything unessential out to keep the story flowing and to avoid confusing nonfans with nonessential tidbits that would only distract from the story. The villains of the story were completely changed, but I wasn't annoyed, because they did it in a clever way that worked for this movie and the story they were telling. They still put in enough nods to the original (like Deslock/Dessler) that fans knew they weren't being shafted or ignored like so many other adaptions have done.

Story. The story was solid, clear, and flowed very linearly without a lot of side trips which really helped to keep the interest. At the same time, they cut the majority of the series out completely instead of trying to cram everything in a make a convoluted mess of the production, which I really appreciated.

The Bad

Japanese movie. This isn't a bad per se, but it is something American audiences will hold against the film. While this movie was much more western in feel and tone than most Japanese films, there is no question this was a Japanese film with a lot of Japanese cultural influences that a western audience would find boring or unnecessary. Some of the pacing and the way character emotions are portrayed may seem slow or strange to someone who doesn't watch a lot of Asian film.

Doctor. I'm not sure why they felt the need to turn the old doctor into a younger female doctor. It made no difference to the story, so why do it?

Captain. The Captain is a pretty cool character in the anime, but he is so reserved and stodgy in this adaption without his bad@$$ dialogue or actions. He could have been better developed and made more interesting, because honestly I didn't care that much when he died, and that should have been one of the most emotional scenes in the movie.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I wish they hadn't made the ending so final. I won't spoil the ending, but the producers really didn't leave it open to a sequel, at least not with the same cast. You could easily adapt the other two series or any of the movies and make a whole series of movies.

Overall

Overall I thought this was a really entertaining movie with great visuals, a strong story,  enough content from the original anime to satisfy fans, but wasn't dependent on having any knowledge of the original series to enjoy so nonfans could enjoy it as well. For anyone who likes a good action flick, special effects flick, space opera flick, or science fiction flick, I'd highly recommend you pick this movie up. I give it a solid 4 out of 5 boxes of popcorn.

DVD Review - JLA Adventures: Trapped in Time

I grew up on SuperFriends, waking up each Saturday morning before 6:00 and watching the countdown until the viewing day began with a patriotic montage and the national anthem. I remember when SuperFriends went off the air for a year, and then came back as SuperPowers. I was so excited. After two more seasons it disappeared again forever. I kept hoping it would come back, but it never did.

And then in college Justice League debuted and I was excited thinking SuperFriends was back. Alas, it was not so. Justice League was a miserable failure until the end of the second season when it started to pick up, and by the fourth season (Justice League Unlimited Season 2) it came close to capturing the magic of SuperFriends.

Then I was in Target one day and saw the cover on the left and wondered what this was. I had heard nothing about it, and I keep my ear pretty close to the ground when it comes to superheroes.

JLA Adventures: Trapped in Time is a direct-to-video animated action, adventure, science fiction, superhero movie staring the Justice League (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Aquaman, and Robin). It was released as a Target exclusive for a few months before gaining a general release. It is appropriate for all ages.

The Good

SuperFriends is Back! After the disappointment of Justice League and DC Entertainments move to DC Original Animated Movies, I thought SuperFriends was gone forever. I'm so glad I was wrong. This movie had the classic heroes and villains we loved from the original series, the Hall of Justice, the Legion of Doom, a scientific fiction trope to drive the plot, and lots of action.

The Action. This movie opens with a giant brawl between the Justice League and the Legion of Doom, and has plenty more fight scenes before the story is over. The animation was well done with all the characters given a decent chunk of time to show what he or she can do.

The Cast of Characters. One of the things that was so fun about the original SuperFriends was seeing all of my favorite heroes and villains together, and being introduced to new ones. The producers didn't let me down. They included over a dozen heroes and villains and gave each a good chunk of screen time and opportunities to use their powers and abilities.

The Costume Designs. The character designs were very true to the original with a fun, modern twist to keep them fresh. While my preference would be for the classic looks, these stayed true enough to the originals that I actually kind of liked them.

The Bad

Robin. Robin was really annoying. They portrayed him as a bratty hyperactive kid with no self control. I suppose they were trying to make him edgy, but instead they made him unlikable.

Wonder Woman. I love Wonder Woman, but she is a hard character to get right. The producers of this show decided to go with the tough, fierce warrior instead of the kind, compassionate, strong woman that we fell in love with in the comics and Lynda Carter TV show. While she wasn't as angry and witchy as some interpretations, she wasn't as likeable as she could have been.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I enjoyed seeing the SuperFriends back in action. I wish the movie had focused on them instead of the two new characters, Karate Kid and Dawnstar, and Lex Luthor. While they were interesting characters, I really miss the heroes I grew up with. Hopefully the next one will focus more on the old heroes.

Overall

Overall this was a very enjoyable movie with a lot of action, interesting character development, fun new costume designs, and a bit of a twist on the time travel trope. The movie has a good pace and while it is skewed for younger viewers, there is enough story and excitement to hold an older audiences attention. I give it 4 out of 5 boxes of popcorn.

Movie Review: The Amazing Spider-man 2

I've been a Spider-man fan for as long as I can remember. When I was little, I loved seeing the live-action adventures on The Electric Company with the cheesy animated webbing that I thought was the coolest thing in the world and all, and I loved his animated adventures on Spider-man and His Amazing Friends. The first comic book I ever bought when I began collecting comics was a Spider-man comic. So of course I was excited and had some pretty tall expectations. And I wasn't disappointed.

The Amazing Spider-man 2 is a 2014 action / adventure / comedy / romance / science fiction / superhero / comic book movie rated PG-13 and is appropriate for almost all ages. There are a few scenes of brief intense action and some killing that could disturb more sensitive children, so you may want to think twice about bringing the littlest ones. It is the second Spider-man movie in this franchise.

The Good

Comedy/Humor. Spider-man is well known for his wisecracking jokes and his fun loving nature, but so often the comics and their adaptions focus on the turmoil and angst he feels and neglect the fun and funny. This movie definitely had the angst, but it was also chuck full of jokes from start to finish. And these aren't your average jokes. Each one was so clever and so fresh that it kept you laughing thru most of the movie. And it had a great mix of visual gags and audible jokes. The movie would succeed on the strength of the jokes alone.

Peter Parker/Spider-man. I thought Andrew Garfield did a great job in the first movie, but in this one he is even better. He really sells the awkward teenager who isn't sure about anything. He also does an excellent job channeling the wisecracking, fun loving Spider-man we've grown to love from the comics and cartoons.

Gwen Stacey. I never liked this character in the comics or the cartoons, but Emma Stone has created a lovable character I really cared about. She has the right balance of being feminine and strong without ever becoming overbearing or witchy.

Chemistry/Romance. Whenever Peter and Gwen get together, you can feel the sparks whether they are flirting, fighting, or foiling super villains.

Harry Osborn. Harry has never been an interesting character in any incarnation (except for occasional moments in the first three Spider-man movies), but this version brought something completely new and wonderful to the table. The character was interesting. He had passion. You could feel his pain. You could totally empathize with what he was going thru and why he chose to do what he did. And yet he had heart. You could really feel the friendship between Harry and Peter. It felt real. It felt like there was history. I've never seen that before. The movie could have been just about him, and it would have been interesting.

Action. From the previews I was expecting to be blown away by the action, and I wasn't disappointed. The camera views were spectacular. The details such as Spider-man swinging from one side of the street to the other to the other running along the side of buildings were so nice. And the freeze time so Spider-man could analyze the situation was really well done and helped make the action understandable so we could truly enjoy all that was happening. Too often fight scenes are filmed in such a way to elicit strong emotion that they become confusing as to what's going on and we can't enjoy them. Not so here. I enjoyed every moment of every fight except for a couple of over the top stunts that looked like a video game. Much like Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier, this felt like I was watching a Todd McFarlane Spider-man comic come to life.

The Bad

Electro/Max Dillion. When I heard Electro would be the villain, I kind of groaned. He jsut isn't a strong character It's kind of fun to see him shoot electricity for a 20-page comic story, but after that he's kind of boring. And the producers did nothing to improve that for the movie. His origin was just as silly as the comic, which felt out of place when you consider how well thought out everything else was. Jamie Foxx played the character very flatly and unlikable with a cartoon version of a nerd for Max Dillion (kind of like all the villains in Joel Schumacher's Batman & Robin) and an emotionalless villain we care nothing about as Electro. The character's powers were played more like a weak version of Magneto not really taking advantage of what electricity can do. The special effects were weak. It looked like Electro was dangling from a wire when he floated, and the electricity just flew from his hands. There was nothing new or original about it. It looked like it had been taken straight out of a boring comic panel for panel. And the character did not fit in the plot, story, or themes. It really felt like a sideline or a second movie when he was on screen, because he did nothing to advance the main plot that anyone else couldn't have done. There are so many other villains to choose from that actually would have advanced the theme and message of the movie.

Ravencroft Doctor. Electro is sent to a prision for the criminally insane, and the doctor there brought back visions of Joel Schumacher's Batman & Robin with the over the top acting, cardboard cutout characters, and silly environments. Compared to how well cast and acted the other parts were, this really felt out of place and felt silly and unnecessary.

A Few Convenient Plot Twists. There were a few convenient plot twists, but they are forgivable considering how they helped keep the movie from lagging.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

A stronger villain than Electro.

Overall

Overall, this movie had me thoroughly entertained from start to finish and wanting more when the credits started to role. The action was spectacular, the comedy so funny, so clever, and so fresh, and the romance so compelling I can't wait to see the next one. The story was strong minus Electro and the Ravencroft doctor. I give it a solid 4.5 out of 5 boxes of popcorn.

Movie Review - Captain America: The Winter Soldier

While I"m a huge superhero fan, I was never a big Captain America fan until I saw the first Captain America movie. After that I fell in love with the character. So when the sequel hit theaters, I was a little worried it wouldn't live up to the high expectations set up by the first movie. I had nothing to worry about.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a 2014 live-action action adventure scifi film rated PG-13 and is appropriate for most ages. There is intense action and some killing so you may want to leave the very little ones at home. It is the second Captain America movie in this franchise.

The Good

The Story. The movie has a solid story and tight plot that perfectly picked up where the first movie and The Avengers left off. Everything that happened had a reason and tied into the film. At the same time, this was a very different movie so while it felt like it was part of the same story and universe, it did not feel like we were watching a remake of the first for even a second, something that almost never happens in sequels.

The Themes. This movie had two major themes -- 1) what does a soldier do after the war is over and he comes home, and 2) when does protection become oppression -- and both were fully developed and integral to the plot and the action and very appropriate for the characters and larger story.

The Cast. I was a little nervous when I heard Chris Evans was cast as Captain America thinking he was too much of a goof off to pull off the role, but for the third time he's proven he is the perfect choice for the role. I can't imagine anyone else playing it. Scarlett Johanson as Black Widow was brilliant as usual. Robert Redford did an excellent job as the Director playing it both as a friendly guy you can trust and evil madman bent on taking over the world without missing a beat. The only character that wasn't excellent was Samuel Jackson's portrayal of Nick Fury. He played him like he plays every character -- over the top and angry. Sam could use a few acting lessons.

Falcon. Marvel is well known for their racism such as creating uninteresting, two-dimensional cardboard cutout ripoffs of established heroes that happen to be black and act as stereotypical as possible so everyone knows it (such as Falcon and War Machine in the comics) and putting existing characters in black face (such as Nick Fury in Iron Man, or Heimdall in Thor, or Spider-man in the Ultimate Spider-man comics). So when I saw Falcon in the previews, I naturally thought, "Oh, boy, the racists at Marvel have struck again." But unlike almost every previous "diversity hire" stunt, Falcon was a real character who was well developed. The actor they chose was very likeable, and the character added to and helped develop the theme of a soldier coming home after war. I believed he was someone Cap would confide in. But they didn't stop there. Falcon was an integral part of the action to preserve freedom without pulling a Super Friends "look, I just magically saved everyone by my simple act after everyone else uncharacteristically failed" plot twist. The movie wouldn't have worked without him.

The Action. I was so impressed with the level of action and how I never got bored of it. The fight scenes were carefully choreographed to match the look and feel of the fights in the comic book without becoming silly.

The Visuals. This movie was big and visually stunning. The cinematography stepped back enough to really showed off the environments, something most modern films eschew in favor of trying to make the viewer feel like he's getting punched in the face.

The Bad

There were only two small parts that weren't absolute perfection.

The first was upon finding Zola in the computer, Zola spills the whole plot for apparently no reason. For the viewer this was great, because it tied everything up quickly and neatly, but it seemed unbelievable, because it gave Captain America the information he needed to thwart Hydra. No genius scientist would willingly do that no matter how large his ego.

The second was the final action scene where Captain America and Winter Soldier are fighting on the helicarrier to put the McGuffin in its place. The action looked over the top and unbelievable it took me out of the move, which is a shame because everything else was so carefully done and so believable.

But these are minor complaints and too insignificant to ruin the overall movie.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

Honestly, I saw everything I wanted to see and more. I was left wanting for nothing.

Except for another sequel.

Overall

Overall this was a thoroughly entertaining movie that had me at the edge of my seat from start to finish. It succeeded on every level a movie can from story to casting to acting to script to action to theme to message to pure enjoyment. It had action, it had drama, it had romance, it had friendship, it had philosophical meanderings, and it had brilliant visuals. It's no surprise this movie has been number one for three weeks in a row. I highly recommend Captain America: The Winter Soldier to everyone. It is well worth your time. I give it a solid 5 out of 5 boxes of popcorn.

Movie Review: Muppets Most Wanted

I've loved the Muppets for as long as I can remember. Saturday afternoons were often spent watching reruns of The Muppet Show. And while I was too young to recognize almost all of the guest stars, I was still enchanted and entranced by the whole experience. The show was made for adults, but it was quickly embraced and beloved by children as well.

Muppets Most Wanted is a 2014 live-action comedy adventure rated PG and is appropriate for all ages. It is the second in the relaunch of the franchise, although as one of the characters noted in the movie, this is actually the seventh sequel to the original film.

The Good

The Story and Plot. The movie was clever and very true to the spirit of past Muppet movies. It had a good solid story that moved at a good pace and never left me bored or looking at my watch.

The Jokes. The jokes were your typical puns, gags, and physical comedy one comes to expect from the Muppets, and yet they're still as funny today as they were in the 70s when Muppets first debuted. They've kept the tone of the humor the same, but the jokes definitely referenced the current world. And while I saw the Usher joke coming, I was still rolling on the ground laughing when it came.

The Casting. Guest stars are a staple of any Muppets production, and this one did not disappoint. It was filled with current stars and celebrities from music, movies, and more. The main characters were funny and played everything just right with the proper mix of silly and serious.

As I stated before, The Muppet Show was meant for adults, but it had so much charm that all ages fell in love with it. This movie is no different. There is plenty to entertain small children, teenagers, and adults alike. This is truly an all-ages film, which is a rarity in today's world.

The Bad

The only complaint I have is there was nothing really surprising or unique about this movie. It felt just like past Muppet movies; it brought nothing new to the table. It makes one wonder why this movie was made and would it really be worth ones time to see the next one if it's going to be more of the same. While I'm glad they didn't mess with the formula and ruin the franchise, that doesn't mean you can't expand on the magic.

And Tina Fay's accent was way too fake and kind of distracting.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I remember being quite awed by the special effects in Muppet's Christmas Carol. That movie was very true to everything we've come to love about Muppets, but it introduced new elements that were very appropriate and fitting and added to the story instead of being just a gimmick. I was hoping to have a similar experience with this movie. I'm not saying they needed to have ultra modern special effects, but it would have been nice to bring something new to the table that expanded on the magic whether it was with the writing, the humor, the guest stars, or some completely new element.

Overall

Overall this was a very funny movie with jokes, gags, and enough action and excitement to keep me entertained from start to finish. It felt like the classic movies Jim Henson himself made, which after disasters like Muppets in Space or that strange Christmas special I never thought I'd see again. I give it 4.5 out of 5 boxes of popcorn.

Movie Review: The Lego Movie

I grew up with Legos and have always loved them. They were fun to build with, but I also loved the story that went with them. When I was young, Legos were marketed under the Legoland name with three worlds: Space, Town, and Castle. Space were always my favorite (especially the Fururon and Blacktron sublines), but I did have a lot of Castle Legos too (the Forestmen were my favorites). Later they added Pirates, Boats, and later licensed properties. While playing with them, I always imaged an animated TV series, comic book, or a movie about Legos and wondered why no one ever made one. Apparently I wasn't the only one who thought that.

The Lego Movie is a 2014 computer generated action adventure comedy film shown in both 2D and 3D. It features many big name stars doing the voices of the characters, and features many big name characters from other universes such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Michelangelo of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and others. It is rated PG and is appropriate for all ages.

The Good

The story was very strong, with a good solid plot. There weren't really any big twists, but the end where they acknowledged Legos were toys was a nice touch and added to the overall theme, story, and plot.

The characters were very likable from the unknown main characters to the guest starts like Batman who wasn't your traditional caped crusader but enjoyable nonetheless.

The tone of the movie was fun, adventurous, and hilarious that stayed true to the spirit of Legos.

The jokes were plentiful and funny with a variety that will appeal to different age groups. The pop culture references many but were done in such a way that you could still enjoy the movie even if you didn't get them

What's nice about The Lego Movie is it isn't a kids movie or a family movie; it is a truly all ages movie, which means children and adults with both really enjoy it. The language, action, and jokes are not too offensive for children, but the story, jokes, and adventures wasn't watered down or dumbed down so adults will enjoy seeing it to. This is a rare--and welcomed--find.

The Bad

With all the hype, positive reviews, and great trailers, I was expecting to be blown away by the film's brilliance. I wasn't. I really enjoyed the movie and felt it was an excellent film, but it didn't quite live up to all the hype. It could have been funnier with a little more wit in the writing.

What I Would Liked to Have Seen

Being a fan of Legoland, I would have liked to have seen them visit the space worlds (especially Furureon) and castle worlds (especially the Forestmen). Instead they opted for a big city, the Old West, and licensed properties. I'm sure the licensed properties brought in a lot more fans, so I don't fault them for that. And this may open the door for more shows that do explore the classic Legoland worlds.

Overall

Overall I felt this was an excellent movie that has a lot for moviegoers of all ages to enjoy. It was completely appropriate for young children while being smart, clever, and exciting enough for older viewers. This movie is well worth your time, and I highly recommend it for all audiences. I give it 4.5 out of 5 bags of popcorn.