 The Boxtrolls Watch out Disney! There’s a new animation company in town! Laika used 3-D stop animation to create a wonderfully visual world reminiscent of Monty Python cartoons. They took over five years to make this movie and it’s worth the wait! I give it an A. The movie appeals to the whole family. The children love the quirkiness of the story and the silly boxtrolls who aren’t the monsters they are made out to be. Some of the scenes may be too scary for the younger children, so use your best judgment.
 Adults will love the deeper undertones to the movie from Mr. Trout and Mr. Pickles arguing about which side is the bad guys to a cross-dressing drag queen character and naked boxtroll behinds. I loved hearing the adults laughing aloud almost as much as the kids.
A delightful movie to be enjoyed again and again, just to “get” all the jokes! 
 The Maze Runner The Maze Runner is Peter Pan meets Lord of the Flies. I’m giving it a B. Filled with action revolving around a group of boys who are trapped in this “glade”, they are forced to create their own society. However, it turns out that things aren’t what they seem. The story will have you questioning what is right and who is in charge. A large concrete maze maybe the only way out, but only if they can get past the monsters inside it. I loved the twists and turns to the story. It keeps you on the edge of your seat. However, the cinematography is dark, sometimes it’s hard to see what is actually happening on the screen, even with my glasses on! There were also more questions than answers. I didn’t understand why certain things happened. Me, I’d be more curious about the monsters and why they have electronics and metal. I would have set traps to kill them and experiment on them. Blood-thirsty much? I did have a hard time with the character of Newt. I know him from Love, Actually and couldn't get him out of that character. You'd be surprised how many of the actors you know just from one show or another. Just don't get too attached! Death comes to many of them! Leave the young ones at home for this movie. Death and monsters will keep them up. Fans of the book will enjoy seeing their story come to life, but unless you are really interested in the movie, wait and see it at home. 
 Dolphin Tale 2 Based on real events, Dolphin Tale 2 is a fun movie for the whole family. I give the movie an A-. Winter is a dolphin that uses a prosthetic tail. She becomes depressed and lonely after the death of her tank mate. The only way to save her is to find another female dolphin that she can bond with. 
The human actors take a backseat to the animals in this movie from the crazy pelican to Winter, a dolphin sure to steal your heart. I wanted to be a marine biologist after watching this movie. It brought back my dream of working in a zoo. Not too mention, the Bottlenose dolphin is special to my heart because it was the name of my classroom last year. <3  Just be prepared…when one of the dolphins ends up on the bottom of the pool, you will have to explain death to your child. I heard a few children shout out during the movie “What’s wrong with the dolphin?” And with a theater full of children, no making out at this one!
 The Identical
The weekend after Labor Day is one of the worst for movies and I agree. There was only one concession open and no waiting! However, braving the lackluster choices, I did find some positives. I give The Identical a C+. This movie was independently made and financed. It wasn’t promoted either, which probably accounts for why no one went to see it! Most of the financial backing came from religious groups and close friends of the director and writer. Many of the people involved did double duty like directing and writing some of the music. Or in the case of Blake Rayne—portraying twin brothers separated at birth. One grows up to be a music icon while the other searches for something meaningful his entire life. The story doesn’t come off as preachy though, except when Ray Liotta is playing the preacher. J Basically it’s more about a man’s search for his own life’s path versus what his dad and society expects. The Identical a cute date night movie for those over 25 years old and understand the Elvis references. And with so few people in the movie theater, you might get to sneak in a few kisses of your own! |
Melissa KeirIt's all about the movies... Archives
January 2020
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