Movie Review: TOY STORY 3

Fantastic! What makes Toy Story 3 so incredible is how this Pixar animated movie elicits so much emotion from the audience. After all, it’s only a cartoon. But for those of us who grew up with Bambi (1942), Walt Disney’s animated feature film written by Perce Pearce and Felix Stalton, we know firsthand, the power of really good storytelling. I’m sure I’m not the only one with vivid memories of Bambi’s mother getting gunned down by hunters. I cried for weeks. Toy Story 3 is not quite in the same league as Bambi but it is good and even adults will find themselves cheering for Woody and his group of toy-friends and cringing at the sinister strawberry scented bear, Lots-O’-Huggin’, voiced by Ned Beatty. And everybody will be scared of the big, stalking, talking baby doll that can turn its head all the way around – creepy.

Toy Story 3, like its predecessors, is a tale almost too preposterous and worse, too sappy, to be taken seriously but this is Pixar’s gift; to take a farfetched premise (think Monsters Inc., Cars and Up) and make it believable, engrossing and captivating. Think of all the movies, with all the bells and whistles, that cannot capture its audience (the new Wolfman, Sherlock Holmes, and The Lovely Bones, to name a few).

Although everyone voicing this movie is perfect, no one quite reaches the ranks of Michael Keaton as the Ken doll; the metrosexual, hung-up on fashion, who falls head-over-heels for Barbie. Oh yes, it is love at first sight and he woos her by asking her to move in to his ‘dream house’.

Most important, the plot allows characters to gradually come to terms with the film's overreaching themes of friendship and loss, taking us right along with them on every step of that poignant journey and bringing our heroes (and the franchise) full circle. Most impressive, the movie ends with a surprisingly moving last act that will leave you in tears.

The story and animation are so good, you will love the movie whether you see it in 3D or not. In today’s world of virtual reality-like 3D, Toy Story 3 is technologically, minor league. See it with your family and friends and stay for the credits as you get a glimpse of what life is like for all the toys at Sunnyside Daycare with the new toys in charge – priceless!

Movie Review: The Karate Kid

The first question everyone will ask: “Is the remake of The Karate Kid as good as the original?” The answer is definitely “no” but it is entertaining and will hold the interest of most kids. The second question: “How could they have made this movie as good as the first?” The answer is easy; cut the running time down by 20 minutes to tighten it up- the original is 20 minutes shorter, get rid of the 2 or 3 unnecessary scenes and reshoot the one weak scene (I won’t tell you which scene it is). Then the movie will come close to reaching the ranks of the first; still a favorite, replayed, rented and re-rented 26 years after its release. That’s not going to happen with this one.

Jaden Smith (son of Will and Jada) is very impressive as Dre Parker, a 12 year old boy, transplanted from Detroit to Beijing because of his mom’s (Taraji Henson) job. Jaden commands the screen better than you might imagine and there’s no doubt, he really mastered some serious martial art skills (if you stick around the theater to watch the credits you’ll see some photos of his training). But the real star (other than the breathtaking shots of the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China – I’m sure the Chinese Department of Tourism is thrilled!) is Dre’s nemesis, Cheng, played to perfection by newcomer, Zhenwei Wan; a young Chinese actor with no real acting experience. Amazing. The blonde haired, Johnny Lawrence, played the part in the original. Wang is so believable that you will question the photo you see during the credits of the 2 laughing and having fun on the set. Acting is very tough business and there is nothing tougher then playing a villain. All the Chinese actors are fabulous. Dre’s love interest and concert violinist, Meiying (Wenwen Han) is beautiful and talented and you will love watching her dance to Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face”. Another nice touch is the demonstration of a unique and seldom seen type of Traditional Chinese Medicine called Fire Cupping – interesting.

Jackie Chan is Mr. Han, the new Mr. Miyagi and is much better than I expected as the Kung Fu master and spiritual advisor to Dre. He’s good because he’s content to play into his diminished (though still remarkable) physical capabilities rather than attempt to disguise them. Though predictable, on a modest but legitimate level, the movie works. I’m a big fan of kids movies that promote the notion of facing your fears. How to Train Your Dragon is a better movie conveying this important message but The Karate Kid is good fun for kids and in true Rocky style, will get everybody on their feet cheering for the underdog.

Warning: Parents, be prepared for your kids to come out of the movie theater and immediately start practicing their Kung Fu moves. Move out of the way because there will be no stopping them!

FOR "MISSION TO HAITI" click 'April 2010' in Blog Archive

Movie Review: SPLICE

If you have ever wondered what a creature would look like if you combined the DNA of an insect, bird, reptile, and human, you don’t have to wonder anymore. Splice, the Canadian movie directed by Vincenzo Natali (he directed the sci-fi nightmare, Cube) has done it for us. Natali, along with first time screenwriter Antoinette Terry Bryant, wrote an exceptionally ballsy, strange and very disturbing (although not entirely original) story about two biochemists, Clive and Elsa, played by Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley, so caught up in the “could we” they neglect to consider the “should we”. Lab partners and lovers; they have used gene-splicing to create interspecies hybrids. Their first successful endeavor produces Ginger and Fred, a pair of amorphous creatures that look like slugs that have been exposed to nuclear fall-out. They are used to produce medication that ensures the health of cattle.

Using CGI technology and the beautiful French actress, Delphine Chaneac; the special effects by Howard Berger that create Dren, the monster, are absolutely seamless. She is beautiful and very scary at the same time. Those legs! Strong performances by Chaneac and Polley (Dawn of the Dead) make this movie watchable. Ultimately, it is a cautionary tale as old as the science-fiction movie genre, but it goes places I’m fairly convinced, American audiences are not quite ready for. We’ll see what happens over the next couple of weeks.

Although some might say Splice is a cross between Species, Alien and Rosemary's Baby; it would be remiss not to put Parenthood in the mix. The movie does not need a big screen (although all science fiction/horror movies work better in a dark movie theater); you can wait for this one to come out On Demand. It clocks in at just under 2 hours but it doesn’t feel it. If you can tolerate the subject matter, it will hold your interest and I promise, you will not be bored. And for those of you who are considering bringing the kids, a heads up; there are 2 pretty explicit sex scenes (and they’re not between Elsa and Clive). Whoa!