Zooey Deschanel Archives | Otaku No Culture

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Zachary Levi may well be typecast, because the character he plays in Harold and the Purple Crayon is no different from Billy in Shazam. There’s a youthful exuberance that this actor loves to amp up, but I’d like to see him expand his range.

When I realised Alfred Molina is also involved in this film, I had to give this film a chance, and found myself enjoying this movie more because of his voice than Levi. He’s like that grandfather I want to spend my time with, but when his presence suddenly disappears, I’m like Harold and have to wonder why. After a few hours alone, he’s comes up with the idea to draw a portal to the real world with his magical crayon, where (like in Disney’s Enchanted) what he discovers is pure culture shock!

Everyone calls him a wacko, and even amusingly a Smurf. The only two people who are sympathetic are Mel (Benjamin Bottani) and Terry (Zooey Deschanel) to this child-like individual who needs to find “The Old Man,” the name he gave to the narrator.

Continue reading “Missed Opportunities with Harold and the Purple Crayon. Can Replacing That With A 3D Pen Do The Job?”

Trolls Movie Poster By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

The creative minds behind Dreamworks Trolls must have been influenced by 70’s musical comedy TV show, The Partridge Family. I really could not stop humming along to the later season’s opening title song, “Come on, Get Happy” afterwards and even hours later, that tune is still not out of my head! When this film’s story is about these Trolls celebrating life, they have a good reason to always be cheerful.

However, Branch (Justin Timberlake) reminds his people that their past will eventually catch up with them; one-day. the Bergins (giants) will find them and, like the Smurfs before them, get caught! Instead of an evil man, a hag has more of a motive to hunt them down like the wicked witch she is! Sadly, the day has come because Poppy (Anna Kendrick), the optimistic daughter of the king, was singing too loud and set off fireworks. Because she believes nobody should get left behind, she’s confident her friends can be rescued.

Branch does not and reluctantly follows because the Trolls have made his home their safe house. He wants them out! His doom and gloom make him the cautious type, but yet he finds something interesting about Poppy who throws that to the wind.

Continue reading “Somewhere Over the Rainbow Are Trolls”