Tag: Musical

With (S)KiDs, It’s Not Just But Still Rock and Roll to Me

The beauty with independent animated works is that they don’t have to play by the rules. For (S)KiDs, the creators must make sure the message is heard, not just blasted.

(s)kids movie posterAvailable to stream on YouTube (free, see below)

The year (S)KiDs take place in may seem unusual, but it feels appropriate to show what teenage life was like back in the early 90s. In a nutshell, I can’t help but think this film is Smells Like Teen Spirit meets The Breakfast Club. This song released by Nirvana in 1991 is more than age-old to reflect upon what this film is about.

Here, this animated film looks at the life of Scotty (James Priestner), a self prescribed punk poet who finds life in a new town difficult. Although he finds a few friends, others soon label them skids, not typical outcasts. Although this derogatory term is not in vogue these days, to escape that label is tough. Molly (Michele Garceau), Billy (Will Letos), and Craig (Les Solis, who also directed this film) are fairly chill, but the fact they all have demons is more telling as the film progresses through their final year at St. Elmo’s High School.

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What Happened During The Beginning To Justify The End? Only Joshua Oppenheimer’s Strange Musical Knows.

The end is nigh in an art house style film about a family who survived the apocalypse who think singing out their feelings is the best way to keep on going. But some fantasies are just that, and could this movie be a parable?

The End (2024) Movie PosterJoshua Oppenheimer is better known for The Act of Killing, an extremely difficult film to view, and with his latest, The End, it’s just as hard. What I offer is more of a commentary with light review elements. I was curious about this musical because of the post-apocalyptic setting. Also, I always want to look at the next movie Tilda Swinton appears in. She’s well known for playing unusual characters, and I loved her performance in The Chronicles of Narnia franchise. 

This movie has the feel of being set in an art history museum. That is because the paintings Swinton’s character paints encompass a wide range of artistic movements and like those masters before her, they are to express her feelings of anger, pain and happiness. I noticed, and this attention to detail is great because it’s her role I want to decipher the most. If I ever get a chance, I’ll have to ask this director and cinematographer Mikhail Krichmanis if that character design was their intention.

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Moana 2 Is Better Off As A TV Series

When sequels take too long to get made, the momentum has to be kickstarted again in Moana 2 and all fans can hope is the wait won’t be long for the next instalment.

Moana 2 Movie PosterSpoiler Alert

The world being set up in Moana 2 feels more suited to be a television series than a film. That’s because when Disney knows they have a hit, they better get on it fast otherwise it might get Frozen behind. Making computer animated films takes a long time, especially when it concerns figuring out the right story to tell. Here, what’s manufactured feels like it’s done by committee rather than from Jared Bush, the only individual who shares writing credit in both films.

Also, the songs aren’t as catchy as those from the first, and felt too loaded to keep the momentum going. After Moana (Auliʻi Cravalho) sings about how much has changed since the events of the last film, she also pines for more adventures with Maui (Dwayne Johnson). One night, she reveals to her little brother that once upon a time, all the island’s various tribes were united, but over time, something caused them all to split apart. Afterwards, she gets a vision to learn why, and she wants to help bring everyone back together!

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Is It Spellbound or Excitement that Skydance’s Latest is on Netflix?

One dream from a young teen is never enough in Spellbound. What she wants, she may not get, and when she has a lot on her shoulder, what’s taught will have most parents nodding.

Spellbound 2024 Movie PosterNow Playing on Netflix

Skydance Animation must be taking lessons from Disney with their latest film Spellbound. That’s because the heroine is a princess, and after seeing her parents argue, the argument transformed them into giant furry beasts. Ellian (Rachel Zegler) has to break the curse. This task will be difficult and as much of this backstory is told in song, what comes next is her trying to maintain the kingdom while questing at the same time. This teen is as adventurous as Merida from Brave, but as for who is in the know, only Minister Bolinar (John Lithgow) and Nazara (Jenifer Lewis), do.

As for the rest of the kingdom, they are blissfully unaware. The young lady has managed everything, and I believe this film is great showing teens they should learn how to be responsible, and take charge when needed. The message is important to note, and although she’s close to getting her parents back, she has to understand what she’s become and also the new boundaries, as the film implies the king and queen are no longer in love.

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Tis Best Not To Go to Eldritch USA to Raise the Dead

When horror, music and comedy get meshed into Eldritch USA, the result is downright hilarious. It’s almost like The Reanimator; and it’s a must watch for the Halloween season!

Eldritch USA Movie PosterAvailable to purchase on Amazon USA and coming to VOD Nov 5, 2024

Not everyone knows that the Rocky Horror Picture Show has a sequel, and although Shock Treatment never saw the same level of success as its predecessor, the updated music left an impression on me. I didn’t think I’d get that love for that until now, while watching Eldritch USA. This work written and directed by Ryan Smith (along with Tyler Foreman) in his debut feature film is just as satirical and well conducted.

Although there’s no song praising those who truly run Denton, that’s because what’s going on in this other city is much worse! Here, it’s more about mysterious cults who know how to raise the dead. When brothers Geoff (Graham Weldin) and Rich Brewer (Andy Phinney) constantly bicker and feud, I thought there might be a Cain and Abel moment.

Eldritch USA Musical Moment

The latter doesn’t like living under the other’s shadow, and although giving him the axe is accidental, the young man also realises he can’t live without the other; just what he does to bring him back to life is needed, but it seems life goes back to normal… or so it seems. What truly makes this musical work is that it genuinely touches on all those bottled up feelings.

When Lovecraft’s works inspired the screenplay, that’s enough to get my attention. And when the movie, Tucker and Dale, may have contributed to the backdrop elements, the fallout is just as crazy. Although there wasn’t a cult involved in that film, what happens here concerns just how badly people, fearing the worst behave, and the coven here seems much more inept than those teens thinking those bumpkins can’t do diddly-squat.

Even after successive watches, the melodies offered will stick, and over time, I sincerely hope Eldritch USA will transform into a full-on stage musical in the coming years.

4½ Stars out of 5

Eldritch USA Movie Trailer

12 Hot Films to See at Fantasia Film Festival 2024

Fans of Fantasia Film Festival will also say their shorts, like Anime no Bento 2024, are not worth missing! They offer a celebration of the arts in ways not every film will explore!

Fantasia Film Festival 2024Montreal City’s Fantasia Film Festival is the destination for all things wild in the pop culture movie scene. Although I love it because of all the Asian style imports, there’s always something unique from another country that’ll catch my interest.

Whether that’s with Les yeux d’Olga or Chainsaws Were Singing (Mootorsaed laulsid) due to what this work promises to entertain with, they help round out this top twelve must see picks! The former is a short which may borrow concepts from Bubba Ho-tep and the latter is a horror musical, a genre which doesn’t receive enough attention, and I hope both succeed!

Presented in alphabetical order are my top picks on what to go see:

Brush of the God (Kaminofude)

Brush of the God (Kaminofude)Sun July 28, 2024
Salle J.A. De Sève

Once a movie earns the label of a kaiju film, I’ll simply watch it, and here, it’s about a young girl who wants to know more about her late grandfather. He’s a model maker who’s worked in many monster movies, and as for how she gets teleported into the worlds that her grandpa made, well, that’s the mystery. I doubt this work will be like the Last Action Hero, but I’m very curious!

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