The Good Dinosaur

This movie is dividing me big time - but at the same time it's not at all. Well - hmm.

Let's start with how it looks - no contest, it's Pixar's best looking movie. The animation is absolutely stunning. I could've watched the water for 2 hours. Some of the stuff looks like a photograph.

Here's where it gets tricky. The story is beautifully simple and emotional at the same time. I cried just as much as I did watching Inside Out - and if a movie makes water come out of my eyeballs, it's a movie I would recommend to anyone.

It will hit you like a brick in typical Pixar fashion - poignant, no-fluff, deliberate. It's an INCREDIBLE story of family, learning to live with fear, and making your mark on the world. It's message is one that will stick with me.

The problem is, it's a very familiar story - in the vein of Lion King, Land Before Time, Ice Age, and even Finding Nemo.

I've always been amazed at Pixar's ability to make original stories out of things you would never expect (toys, fish, emotions). The story is technically original - but it's so similar to other things that at times it feels criminal.

After thinking about it for a long time, especially during the writing of this review, I think I've reached my verdict on these similarities - I don't care.

Have I sold out? Am I looking the other way in the face of some serious unoriginality? Maybe. But I love the characters and I loved the story - even if it is familiar.

And it's not a blatant ripoff - everything has its unique twist. The father/son relationship that screams "Lion King" does have its own moments that Simba and Mufasa never had. The movie is more about family than it is about strictly father and son.

It's funny, sad, and heartfelt - but at the same time feels like a new friend trying to replace your old friend. 

Maybe I do care. Hmm.

On the flip side, isn't this supposed to be a kids movie? The kid in me LOVED this movie. It's the aspiring critic in me that's more divided. I'm just a little disappointed that a Pixar movie is giving me these problems.

Here's the bottom line - go see this movie and make your own opinion about it. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I just wish I didn't feel guilty for doing so. At the least, it's a very good movie. I wish I could call it a great movie. If it came out before Lion King, maybe I could.

I guess it all ties back to my first sentence. See what I mean?

The Night Before

I did not care to go see this movie. I just wasn't in the mood for what I thought this movie was going to be - a bland drug comedy with some Christmas sprinkled in. 

The Night Before is like the tiny iPod sitting under the Christmas tree wrapped up in a huge box - an unexpected and awesome surprise.

What I'm getting at is that this movie was actually heartfelt. There were moments where I felt genuine sadness and genuine happiness. At its core, this isn't a stoner comedy that sprinkles in a crappy plot and a few "Christmas values". It's a hilarious movie with well developed characters and a strong plot that embodies the meaning and spirit of Christmas - and sprinkles in some drugs for comedic effect.

Even though JGL seems slightly type-casted, his love interest is definitely a "B-List Zooey Deschanel", and his whole sub-plot screams comparisons to 500 Days of Summer, its not a blatant rip-off - just sweetly familiar.

If you're in this for the comedy, you'll definitely won't be disappointed - I was frequently laughing out loud and I will 100% be quoting this movie for the remainder of the holiday season.

There are 3 great celebrity cameos - and the reason I didn't post a trailer is because all the trailers I've seen ruin the best one. 

I'm seriously impressed that this movie manages to be so many things at once:

It's a hilarious comedy.

It's a Christmas movie.

It's very vulgar.

It's a great movie.

The essence of The Night Before is friendship. True friends are like family, and this movie is a testament to the power of having friends who have your back - and an instrumental part of the Christmas season is to be thankful for friends like these. When the credits rolled, I was thankful for my friends and more than excited to kick off the Christmas season. Don't miss this movie - it could be a classic one day. I know I'll be watching it next year too.

NETFLIX PICK OF THE WEEK: Hot Rod

"Smack destiny in the face."

Since I totally forgot about last week's pick of the week, I thought I'd make it up to you by reviewing one of my all time favorite movies - Hot Rod. I'm actually seriously surprised it hasn't made its way onto the blog before now.

Hot Rod, believe it or not, was one of the 3 movies that really got me interested in movies - alongside the Dark Knight and the Shawshank Redemption. Hot Rod definitely stands out among the three.

In middle school, before Netflix was the booming industry it is today and long before it offered Hot Rod on instant play, my friend Wesley Sweet showed me this masterpiece. It was the funniest hour and 28 minutes of my entire life. I laughed so hard, I had a small asthma attack. I couldn't wait to watch it again.

I've actually lost count of how many times I've seen this movie, but I estimate around 20 times. I quote it on a regular basis. I have it on my phone for when I need a quick pick-me-up. I used to own a shirt from the movie until it got a massive hole in the armpit.

The premise, if you are not aware, is as follows: a crappy stuntman named Rod Kimble and his loser friends (including his step-brother) must do a crazy stunt to raise enough money to pay for Rod's step-dad's heart surgery so Rod can beat him in a fair fight. I feel like that premise alone could suffice for this entire review. Lucky for you, I love talking about this movie.

Why do I love a movie so much that critics seem to hate? Is it charming setting of a small town with a 90's feel? Is is the eccentricity of the characters, who wear Heelies, throw ninja stars, and trip acid? Is it the ever memorable and catchy soundtrack? Is it the unbelievable quotability? Is my judgement clouded with nostalgia?

I don't even care if you hate this movie. I could watch it another 20 times. It's too legit to quit. Case closed.

The Peanuts Movie

I've always been a fan of the Peanuts comic strip - do Peanuts fans call themselves the Peanut Gallery? - If so, count me in.

In my early years of reading, I used to devour the Sunday "funnies" as my grandma calls them. She used to send them to me in big yellow envelopes, and Peanuts was always one of my favorite strips.

When I was young, I laughed at it for Charlie's blockheaded-ness and Snoopy's antics. As I get older, I look at Peanuts with a different perspective - I relate to Charlie's blockheaded-ness and the melancholy of growing up. 

Peanuts shines as a wonderful juxtaposition of life's ups and downs - for every time Lucy tricks Charlie into making a fool of himself, Linus is there to pick him back up. For every time his kite gets stuck in a tree, Snoopy is there to be a friend. As much of a klutz Charlie can be, he's a good man - and his friends have his back.

When I went to see Peanuts, I was ready to soak in a feel good movie and ride the nostalgia train as far as I could - and I had a blast.

The movie looks beautiful - a one of a kind 3-D animation style is a huge success in keeping the tone and overall aesthetic of the 2-D classics we know and love. 

This is such a character driven movie, and it's great fun to watch the Peanuts come to life in a new and exciting format; you couldn't ask for better voice actors.

After seeing a trailer for the movie earlier in the year that showcased some pop music, I was terrified Peanuts was going to try to hard to cater to younger audiences; thankfully, this isn't the case. The score is a fantastic fit, and there weren't any pop songs save for a dance song that actually ties into the plot.

The plot itself is refreshingly simple - with a runtime just over an hour and a half, it succeeds in doing what Schultz was a master of - putting Charlie down, then picking him back up again. I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't rely on the classic Peanuts "cliches", but used them to enhance its own story. Intertwined with the adventures of "The Flying Ace", a "Little Red-Haired Girl" moves in across the street from Chuck - who instantly starts crushing on her. Charlie is excited for a chance to have a clean slate with someone and thinks maybe she could see past his blockheaded-ness. Charlie's quest is tough, and there were several parts that were hard to watch (in a good, Peanuts way), but the reward is so great and I had a smile on my face the whole time. 

Charlie's selflessness, compassion, and bravery are all heartwarming and inspiring. Linus's wisdom is consoling. Schroeder's piano skills are entrancing. 

This movie was everything I was looking for, and something all ages can enjoy and take different things away from. Long time fans will love it, and it could make fans of a new generation as well.

3D? Not necessary. If you have the extra $ to blow, might as well. It looked nice.

NETFLIX PICK OF THE WEEK: Room 237

This should be fun - every week, I'm going to recommend a movie available for play on Netflix instant. Hopefully this can eliminate a chunk of the 30 minutes you spend scrolling through titles. And hopefully you can appreciate my taste. Let's do this.

Firstly, Room 237 is a movie about a movie - Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. If you haven't seen it, this movie will be extremely less enjoyable. So go watch that first.

Unfortunately, I can count the horror movies I've seen on one hand - but among them, the Shining takes the cake. It's an unnerving, unsettling masterpiece and it is one of the best cinematic experiences I've ever had. After my first viewing, I knew I had only glazed the surface of the film's meanings. Through the next few viewings, I gained a better grasp of the motifs, but accepted the fact that I could never completely understand what was going on in Kubrick's mind - something that Room 237 attempts to do.

This "documentary" analyzes the film through the accounts and conspiracy theories of nine people - who claim the movie is everything from an account of Native American genocide to a confession that Stanley Kubrick helped fake the moon landing. The movie is nothing more than these people's voices - you never see their faces, and there isn't any commentary apart from what they say. These accounts, overlaid with imagery from the Shining and from other sources, make up the entirety of the movie - making the most unique "documentary" format I've ever seen. 

The movie lets the viewer decide what they want to believe, never trying to prove any of the crazy things the interviewees describe. As a whole, I thought this movie was less about The Shining than it was about these interviewees - and the lengths people will go to find meaning in intricacy.

Thought provoking, funny, and even creepy at times (the last commentary really disturbed me), Room 237 (along with its wonderful score) put me in a trance of reflection and amusement. If you like the Shining, fan theories, listening to crazy people, or documentaries in general, give Room 237 a watch. 

Room 237 is available for streaming on Netflix.