Pacific Rim Delivers Plenty of Scale and Memories

Plenty of heavy metal thunder can be found in Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim. Once the action happens, this film’s many battle sequences are fast and furious.

Pacific Rim Poster

Plenty of heavy metal thunder can be found in Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim. Once the action happens, this film’s many battle sequences are fast and furious, and that’s how real fights should be wrought. Anything drawn out makes those moments slow. Audiences must be tired of Matrix-style “hang-time” effects by now and this film is anything but. Plenty of striking visuals can be seen in this movie that is very different from del Toro’s previous products.

Even the 3D finally offers some punch. Out of all the movies that have been converted to 3D in post, this film is the best of them all. Not one moment feels flat.

Although there is plenty of familiarity to this product, fans of giant monster movies and anime will no doubt love this film. The pacing could have been better and the camaraderie further developed, but that would shift the focus. This movie is layered to introduce smaller conflicts for the hero, and to have more explanation happen would make this film run longer. In a tale that is like the classic anime of the previous century, the hero is introduced to a precarious situation, has to lose something (or someone) dear to him, and that drives him for the remainder of the series. If there are plans for another movie, the threat will have to come from the stars next. Del Toro may well finally get to make a Cthulhu inspired movie after all!

Continue reading “Pacific Rim Delivers Plenty of Scale and Memories”

Tron Legacy. The Franchise and The Future in Jeopardy

TRON Legacy expands the original’s digital mythos, exploring the dangers of perfectionism, the consequences of creation, and the search for meaning within a machine-made world. Beneath its dazzling neon visuals lies a story about legacy, responsibility, and the human spirit coded into every program.

Tron Legacy new IMAX PosterThe most enduring gift TRON gave pop culture is its glowing, neon aesthetic. Its CGI style still looks sleek today, and back then, who didn’t want to toss a glow-in-the-dark Frisbee? TRON Legacy takes that iconic look and pushes it even further.

Original creator Steven Lisberger tapped into the same space-fantasy energy that fueled a Star Wars generation. Swap out lightsabers for identity discs, and you’ve got familiar thrills. This sequel puts the spotlight on Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) and his long-lost father, Kevin (Jeff Bridges). When a mysterious page appears on Alan Bradley’s (Bruce Boxleitner) phone, Sam is pulled into the Grid—and straight into his father’s unfinished business.

Inside the digital world, both Flynns wrestle with pride and the fallout of trying to play God. Kevin set out to build a perfect system, only to unleash chaos—a Pandora’s box of his own making. His creation isn’t just rebelling; it craves recognition.

Continue reading “Tron Legacy. The Franchise and The Future in Jeopardy”

How to Keep on Selling and Loving How to Train Your Dragon Beyond its Source Material.

Both the novels and animated series in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise can be enjoyed as its own separate entities.

How to Train your Dragon PosterDreamWorks has a solid winner in How to Train Your Dragon. Loosely based on Cressida Cowell’s novel of the same name, the film offers a refreshing spin on dragon folklore. With nods to legends of old, the caricature-driven CGI world here does more than stir the imagination—it hints at a saga in the making. Given the number of books in the series, there’s ample material for future adaptations. Writer-directors Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders doesn’t seem too concerned about diverging from the source material, and for good reason.

A veteran of the animation scene, Sanders is best known for Lilo & Stitch, and he brings much of that magic to DreamWorks. Look closely and you might notice that Toothless the dragon bears a striking resemblance to the alien Stitch.

Instead of a girl meeting an extraterrestrial, the story ventures into a fantasy realm where a young boy, Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), encounters a dragon. His Viking village is at war with the entire dragon race, and in preparation for the next generation of warriors, Hiccup attends a training school. Instead of following the rules, however, he skips classes to secretly rehabilitate a wounded dragon. The real question becomes: who is training whom? These moments of mutual discovery are among the film’s most engaging, with a few irresistibly adorable scenes as the bond grows—much like in Lilo & Stitch.

When Hiccup and Toothless take to the skies, the aerial sequences are breathtaking, rivaling and arguably surpassing anything in Avatar. Even James Cameron could take a few notes here.

The film’s slightly exaggerated, cartoon-like style makes it more charming than if it had pursued pure photo-realism. At its core is a powerful message: alliances are possible, even between sworn enemies. The story doesn’t shy away from the cost of conflict either; battles leave their scars, lending the film a welcome touch of realism.

The franchise’s reach extends beyond the big screen. The television series Dragons: Riders of Berk has shown that Hiccup, Astrid, Snotlout, Fishlegs, Tuffnut, and Ruffnut can do more than tame dragons—they can work alongside them. The upcoming series, Dragons: Defenders of Berk, will see the heroes face Alvin and the Outcasts. Given the previous season’s cliffhanger, Berk’s residents may be facing a full-scale invasion. Life in their once-secluded village is changing, and Hiccup might soon have to learn what it takes to be a leader—perhaps even a king. While the books have never served as a strict blueprint for the animated series, familiar plot points are beginning to emerge.

Both the How to Train Your Dragon novels and the animated series stand on their own, offering different yet equally enjoyable experiences. For fans awaiting the next instalment—whether in theatres, on streaming platforms, or as part of the live-action reimagining—reading the books is a great way to keep the magic alive. There’s room to expand this world in many directions, from side stories for the supporting cast to deeper arcs for familiar faces, with or without direct ties to Cressida Cowell’s source material. It’s rarely worth reinventing the wheel; new interpretations will come in time. For now, growing the How to Train Your Dragon universe feels like the best path forward.

5 out of 5

How to Train Your Dragon Trailer

 

The Minions Just Wanna Have Fun in Despicable Me 2

In Despicable Me 2, the Minions are still working for Gru (Steve Carell) like lemmings with a renewed purpose.

Despicable Me 2 GangLet’s face it, the big reason why the Despicable Me 2 is successful is because of all those Minions. The most prominent are Phil, Kevin and Dave along with all 101 of them, if that’s the correct count.

They are just as cute as those Dalmatians, however they are more like the Martians from Toy Story, ooohing and aahing at everything they encounter. And these characters do not disappoint in their hilarious hi-jinks in the sequel.

In fact, they even outdo the Penguins of Madagascar as great comedic teams. Fans of slapstick will no doubt be looking forward to the Minion movie, due in theaters Dec 2014, more than the Penguins, due in 2015.

Continue reading “The Minions Just Wanna Have Fun in Despicable Me 2”

About Harry Potter Final Movie: A Deathly Analysis

Before watching Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows Part Two, viewers have to remember what happened in Part One.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2The cinematic translation of the Harry Potter saga is one of those franchises that almost succeeded in staying fresh. It’s more of a worthwhile experience to watch the entire video series back-to-back than trying to watch each film separately. The overall charm of the series is that there are small plot points that can be found which contributes to the larger narrative. But when director David Yates has other ideas, to see that he doesn’t continue from these story elements can get problematical.

About thirty minutes from each movie, from Philosopher’s Stone on, is part of the larger story–this narrative is the story of Voldemort’s resurrection to power. The rest of the time is the story of Harry Potter becoming a man.

Before watching Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows Part Two, viewers have to remember what happened in Part One. In Part Two, the first scene ominously opens with Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) claiming the most powerful wand in the Potter-verse–if that’s forgotten, well, it doesn’t take long to know why: the Elder Wand is the like of the Spear of Destiny. Those who possess it will rule the Earth. Voldemort wants to use it to rule over death.

Continue reading “About Harry Potter Final Movie: A Deathly Analysis”