Encanto: a story about family bonds and being true to yourself.

Encanto had a quiet release in movie theaters on November 24, 2021 but it exploded since the film landed on Disney+ in December 2021. It seems at every turn, someone somewhere is talking about this film. It is a film that my daughters and I lov. We have watched the movie many times and listened to the soundtrack almost daily. My oldest daughter and I have had deep discussions about the themes and motivations of each character. Whether it is the story or the music, Encanto has been on the minds and hearts of its audience. However, it is not without its critics. I will briefly discuss the synopsis of the story for those who have not yet seen Encanto, what I liked about the film and my response to the critics of this beautiful film. 

Encanto is about the magical family Madrigal. Abuela Alma loses her husband Pedro while escaping the violence that erupted in their village. At the Cano Cristales River, nicknamed the Liquid Rainbow (Zapata, 2022), her candle becomes magical, keeping her and her infant children safe. Fifty years later, safely hidden in the mountains of Colombia, they live in a charmed village called the Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift. Every child except Mirabel. No one knows why she hadn’t received a gift and Mirabel grows up essentially on the outside looking in with her magical family. However, the night of her cousin Antonio’s gift ceremony, she sees cracks in their casita and the magical candles flame flickers out. She may be the only hope the family has as she sets out to discover why the magic surrounding the Encanto is in danger. 

From my first viewing, I fell in love with Encanto just as I fell in love with Coco (2017). First, Encanto is a beautiful story about family pressures and being true to yourself. Luisa, the sister with super strength, feels she must be stronger and stronger to handle all the family burdens. If she fails, the family fails. Isabela has to be perfect despite feeling she wants moments of imperfection. Mirabel helps her sisters see that they can be more than their gifts. Second, the music is outstanding. From lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton and In the Heights) and composer Germaine Franco (Coco), the music carries the emotional impact of the family and their struggles. My favorite song is Dos Oruguitas. Sung by Colombian star Sebastian Yatra, the song has a folk song vibe as it tells the story of two caterpillars who are holding on tightly to each other, afraid of the change that is coming. But as they turn into butterflies (mariposas), they learn to fly apart, reunite and look to the future. It’s a beautiful image and reminder that we all change and grew into the people we are meant to be but still be a family. Third, the symbolism seen throughout the film. The butterfly theme is seen throughout the film in obvious and subtle ways. Butterflies are symbolic with change. The yellow butterflies are specifically important to Colombia. It is a nod to magical realism and a nod to A Hundred Years of Solitude (1967) by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Colombian Nobel laureate (Zapata. 2022). 

Most reviews have been very positive. Mark Kennedy of the Associated Press said, "It's only appropriate that Encanto—fueled by eight original songs by Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda—turns into that most special thing of all: A triumph in every category: art, songs and heart." However, some have not been so positive. One complaint I have read in different reviews has been that the valley represented, Valle del Cocora, and the Cano Cristales River are more than 850 km away from each other. One reviewer states that the fictional village “that combines locations and elements so distant cheapens what the places are and what they represent” (Garzon, 2022). I understand this criticism because as someone who has lived in Southern California all her life, I have encountered many people who think I live near Los Angeles. While my homes have not been as far away as these two Colombian locations, they are far enough to say I am not from Los Angeles and have only visited a few times in my life. However, I understand that the studio probably wanted to highlight these two popular land features as representing the beauty of Colombia. Despite reviews that point out the simplified Disney version of Colombia, many have embraced the chance to see their culture and their families represented. Especially Afro-Latino, “a group that is even more underrepresented in media than non-Black Latinos” (Medina, 2022). 

Overall, Encanto introduces the wider world to the beautiful country of Colombia and it’s diversity. Despite the criticisms of simplifying the dark history of the country, if one person is motivated to learn more about Colombia, it’s people and the troubles they face and are moved to help, then I say the movie has done a great deal for Colombia. The movie has motivated me to read Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s works. I have heard his name many times but have not read his books. However, now I will and I look forward to it. If you have not seen Encanto, I highly recommend it. It is a moving experience that highlights the beauty and tragedy of Colombia while speaking to the universal language of family bonds and being true to yourself. 

References

Garzon, Camilo (January 6, 2022). Encanto Still Has Charm, Despite Generic Representation of Colombia. The Latinx Project. https://www.latinxproject.nyu.edu/intervenxions/encanto-still-has-charm-despite-generic-representation-of-colombia. Retrieved February 9, 2022. 

Kennedy, Mark (November 22, 2021). Review: Disney’s animated ‘Encanto’ effortlessly enchants. Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/film-reviews-entertainment-reviews-arts-and-entertainment-movies-d04ad9807894c297d5860020ca463abc. Retrieved February 9, 2022. 

Medina, Amalia (January 20, 2022). Latinx embrace representation shown in Disney’s 'Encanto'. State News. https://statenews.com/article/2022/01/representation-in-encanto?ct=content_open&cv=cbox_latest. Retrieved February 9, 2022. 

Zapata, Mariana (January 25, 2022). 'Encanto' References You Probably Missed. Far & Wide. 

https://www.farandwide.com/s/encanto-disney-colombian-references-e63be2842a4f464f?utm_campaign=encantoreferences-c86cae07c2364b12&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=fac&utm_content=1579568&fbclid=IwAR2j79X_W6e. Retrieved February 8, 2022. 

My Little Pony: A New Generation: a movie review

My Little Pony: A New Generation in a new computer animated film which features new ponies and adventures in the land of Equestria. Directed by Robert Cullen and Jose Ucha, the film is the start of the fifth generation of the My Little Pony franchise. Voice talents include Vanessa Hudgens, Kimiko Glenn, James Marsden, Sofia Carson and Liza Koshy. The film was released on Netflix on September 24, 2021 with limited theatrical releases in Hong Kong, South Korea, and Russia. What is the main story? What was good about the film and what fell short? 

Set many, many years after the events of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Twilight Sparkle’s teachings on friendship and harmony have been replaced with mistrust, paranoia and false beliefs about each other. Earth ponies, pegasi and unicorns have lived isolated from one another. In the Earth pony town of Maretime Bay, Argyle Starshine (voiced by Michael McKean) tells stories of Twilight Sparkle and her friends to his young daughter, Sunny Starscout (voiced by Vanessa Hudgens), who shares his dream of reuniting the three pony kinds. One day, when Sunny has grown up, a unicorn named Izzy Moonbow walks into Maretime Bay. As the town’s residents panic, thinking that Izzy is a hostile invader, Sunny sees the opportunity to make friends with a unicorn. She shelters Izzy in her home and discovers that the unicorns have lost their magic. Together, they embark on an adventure where they meet royal sisters, Pipp (voiced by Sofia Carson) and Zipp (voiced by Liza Koshy) from Zephyr Heights, and joined by Maretime Bay’s sheriff, Hitch (voiced by James Marsden) to restore magic to the land. 

There were many aspects of the film that I enjoyed. First, the story itself. It is an enjoyable, funny, and yes even a bit predictable, film with a great message. A message that friendship is what brings us together and friendship is what helps bridge our differences and bring magic to our lives. Second, the voice acting. Each actor is a great fit for their character. I thoroughly enjoyed Kimko Glenn’s Izzy Moonbow, the innocent and goofy unicorn, who was simply looking for a friend. Izzy reminds me of Pinkie Pie, the fun-loving Earth pony from Friendship is Magic. Third, what would a My Little Pony show be without music? And the music in this film is catchy and enjoyable. My favorite song is Sunny’s song, “Gonna Be My Day.” A song in which Sunny affirms that she will not be held back by the fear that has gripped other Earth ponies and to forge ahead with the change she desires to see. 

There wasn’t much that I didn’t like about this film. At a runtime of 90 minutes, the story and its resolution happens fairly quickly. This aspect can be forgiven as it is a children’s film that only has a short amount of time to capture and keep their attention. I didn’t like one song, “Danger, Danger (Angry Mob). It reminded me of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.” I don't know if the similarities were intentional or not. One aspect of the story I did not care for is when Hitch goes after Sunny, his deputy, Sprout (voiced by Ken Jeong) morphs into a dictator, and is ultimately the antagonist the ponies must overcome, gets off scot-free with no consequences. At least that we don’t see in the film. One critic criticized the film for its “creepily-anthropomorphized" design of the ponies (Loayza, 2021). I didn’t find the design of the ponies creepy at all. It is definitely a change from the original ponies of the 1980s (which today I find a bit creepy) to the ponies of Friendship is Magic. The film garnered many positive reviews. The film was “paying homage to the past while telling a new tale” and “delivering an innovative, subtly subversive family-friendly product” (Howard, 2021). 

In conclusion, I thoroughly enjoyed this film. My preschool daughter enjoyed it as well. As we have watched it multiple times a day since it’s release. Even my older daughter, who grew up with Friendship is Magic, enjoyed this film. I see many more views in our future. I look forward to further films or shows they may have planned for this new generation. My Little Pony: A New Generation is a family friendly and fun film. If you are a fan of Friendship is Magic, you will enjoy A New Generation. 

References

Howard, Courtney (September 21, 2021). "'My Little Pony: A New Generation' Review: Franchise Re-shoe Offers a Galloping Good Time". Variety. https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/my-little-pony-a-new-generation-review-1235069513/. Retrieved September 24, 2021.

Loayza, Beatrice (September 23, 2021). My Little Pony: A New Generation' Review: The Ponies Get Political. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/23/movies/my-little-pony-a-new-generation-review.html.  Retrieved September 24, 2021.

Over the Moon: an adventure story with life lessons

Over the Moon is an American Chinese computer animated film, directed by Gary Keane, co-directed John Kahrs. Screenplay by the late Audrey Wells along with Alice Wu and Jennifer Yee McDevitt. Starring the voice talents of Cathy Ang, Phillippa Soo, Ken Jeong, John Cho, Margaret Cho and Sandra Oh. First shown at the Montclair Film Festival on October 17, 2020, it was released on Netflix and select theaters on October 23, 2020. My eight-year-old daughter is a big fan of Phillippa Soo and was excited to watch Over the Moon. When we watched it together, I found it was a fun adventure story with a touching life lesson.

The film opens with a young girl named Fei Fei (voiced by Cathy Ang) with her parents. Her mother tells her the legend of Chang’e, the moon goddess, who took a potion for immortality and ascending to the moon without her lover, Houyi. Now she sits on the moon, waiting for her love. As her family prepares for the annual Moon Festival, Fei Fei’s mother falls ill and passes away. Four years later, Fei Fei and her father prepare for the annual Moon festival, but something is different this year. Mrs. Zhong (voiced by Sandra Oh) and her eight-year-old son, Chin (voiced by Robert G. Chiu) arrives, and everything seems to fall apart. Fei Fei decides to build a rocket to the moon to prove the moon goddess’s existence. Once she arrives of the moon, Chang’e (voiced by Phillippa Soo) is not who Fei Fei was expecting. She tells Fei Fei that she was supposed to deliver a gift for Chang'e and offers proof of her existence as a prize. Fei Fei finds herself in a race against time to find the gift, get her proof and go home.

The movie was sweet and fun. There are many aspects I enjoyed about the film. I will highlight my top three. First, the story is wonderful. While it has the common themes of parental death, grief and moving on. It is still a moving story about a young girl who learns that moving on doesn’t mean she stops loving her mother, stops missing her or worse, forgets her mother. Over the Moon offers a story that shows children that it is okay to cry and grieve after a loss of a loved one. As well as it is okay to move on. Second, the music is fun and enjoyable. The score was composed by Steven Price and the original songs were written by Christopher Curtis, Marjorie Duffield, and Helen Park. Phillippa Soo shines with her beautiful voice as well as shows off her hip hop skills. Third, I loved the insights into more of Chinese culture. My daughter and I immediately googled mooncakes, which are made during the Moon Festival, as we have never heard of them before and they look so delicious.

Unfortunately, there was one aspect of the movie I did not care for. The character of Gobi, voiced by the talented Ken Jeong, was a character that seemed out of place. Gobi, a pangolin, was a former royal advisor to Chang’e who exiled him a thousand years ago. Gobi came into the story to bring Fei Fei to a revelation that will change her attitude and view on her life. Normally, that would be fine and expected, however, Gobi was too much like Olaf for me to fully enjoy his part in the story. His manic speech style felt familiar to Olaf’s. The rambling, nonsense speech with a gem of entitlement in the middle was too much like Olaf. It is not the fact that Fei Fei had animal companions as many. Many fairy tales and legends have animal counterparts. Gobi would have been great if he just didn’t feel like an Olaf copy.

In conclusion, I enjoyed Over the Moon. It was fun and enjoyable. It had funny moments. It had sad moments. It had moments led to talks with my daughter about loss and grief. It had amazing animation with a great story featuring a Chinese legend and a look into more aspects of Chinese culture. The music was great and fun to listen to. While I did not enjoy the Gobi character, the other characters were fun. Overall, I recommend Over the Moon for all. Not just families, but for anyone who would enjoy a story about a young girl who learns a great life lesson. 

Mary Poppins Returns: a hit and miss return for a beloved character

When the Walt Disney Company announced the sequel to the classic film Mary Poppins (1964), I thought there is no way a new film could compare. Even though there are multiple Mary Poppins books, why bother with a sequel film? Emily Blunt was casted as Mary Poppins and Lin-Manuel Miranda as Jack, the lamplighter who was an apprentice to Bert. Mary Poppins Returns (2018) opened on December 19, 2018 to positive reviews. I didn’t have the desire to watch it until recently when I saw it available on Netflix. So, I decided to give it a chance. Unfortunately, the film tried to be it’s own film while trying to pay homage to the original film.

The film opens in London during the Great Depression. Michael Banks (played by Ben Whishaw) lives in his childhood home on Cherry Tree Lane with his three children, Annabel, John and Georgie. The previous year, his wife died, leading his sister, Jane (played by Emily Mortimer) to move in. Michael had taken a loan from his employer, the Fidelity Fiduciary Bank, and is three months behind on the payments. William “Weatherall” Wilkins (played by Colin Firth) is the new corrupt chairman of the bank and Michael’s boss, sent lawyers to warm him that his house will be repossessed if the loan is not repaid in full by the end of the week. Michael and Jane frantically searched the house for the share certificates that their father left them that should be able to cover the loan. During the search, Michael finds the kite that was flown at the end of the original movie. In his frustration, he throws it out the window. Later the children visit a local park and George finds the kite and flies it when a strong wind rips it from the sky. Mary Poppins descends from the sky with the kite in her hand. She takes the children home, becomes their new nanny and their adventures begin.

What I first liked about the film are the nods to the original film. Some were obvious like the kite that brings Mary Poppins back but also the Easter Eggs featured in the background. For example, the blocks that spell out Poppins can be seen in the attic. Also, if you listen closely, you can hear the melodies from “Let’s Go Fly A Kite,” “Spoonful of Sugar”, and other songs from the original film in the background. There are a couple of cameos made by original cast members. Blink and you might miss it. Second, Emily Blunt did a wonderful job as Mary Poppins. I think she captured Mary Poppins’ personality as the firm but magical nanny. She didn’t try to duplicate Julie Andrews but made the role her own. Third, Lin-Manuel Miranda as the lamplighter Jack. Most people are familiar with Miranda as the songwriter of the hit musical Hamilton (2015) and well as the music and lyrics from Moana (2016). Miranda takes his cues from Dick Van Dyke’s Bert from the original film; however, like Ms. Blunt, takes his role and makes it his own. The big song and dance number in the film, “Trip a Little Light Fantastic," is impressive and highlights Miranda’s talents.

The main disappointment about this film is that the songs aren’t as memorable as one would expect from a Disney film. And it is difficult not to compare the songs to the original movie. Despite my best efforts, I found myself doing comparisons. For instance, “Trip a Little Light Fantastic” (which is a song I loved the most in the movie) to “Step in Time” which is an amazing feat of dancing and my favorite song from the original film. The former pales in comparison. One particular song, “A Cover Is Not The Book,” was creepy and, as one article describes it, “ode to literature and non-judgementalism with a slyly naughty list of did-they-say-that double entendres” (Cava, 2018). For example, in the song, they refer to the story of Lady Hyacinth Macaw, the last part of the lyrics say “So no one tried to rob her/'Cause she barely wore a stitch/For when you're in your birthday suit/There ain't much there to show you're rich!” By the end of this song, I felt creeped out. I’m sure the children in the audience would not have picked up on it but as a parent watching this, I was thinking, “Wait? Come again?” Did they really say that? What does even mean?

In conclusion, Mary Poppins Returns is a disjointed, nod to the original while trying hard to be its own film. While I enjoyed the performances from Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda, the songs were not as enjoyable. Even with the nods and Easter Eggs to the original films, some were bluntly obvious and even eyerolling, “Okay we get it!” If the original 1964 Mary Poppins film is a beloved favorite of yours, I recommend you skip Mary Poppins Returns. However, if you can separate the two films, without comparisons, you may find yourself enjoying Mary Poppins Returns.

References

Cava, Dan. (December 24, 2018).’Mary Poppins Returns’ is not a jolly holiday with Mary.  https://clture.org/mary-poppins-returns/. Retrieved July 30, 2020.

Onward: a brother adventure in a magical land

Onward is the newest Pixar film directed by Dan Scanlon, written by Scanlon with Jason Headley and Keith Bunn. The film stars Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Octavia Spencer. Set in a suburban fantasy world, the film follows two elf brothers who set out on a quest to find a rare artifact that well bring back their deceased father for one day. Released on March 6, 2020 in the US, the film received generally positive reviews and grossed $104 million worldwide before the coronavirus pandemic shut down theaters. It was released on Disney+ and other screaming services on April 3.

In a world of mythical creatures, magic was once commonplace. After technological advances over the years, magic became obsolete and was largely discarded. It is now modern day, Ian Lightfoot (voiced by Tom Holland), an elf socially awkward high schooler who lacks self-confidence. His older brother, Barley (voiced by Chris Pratt), is a history and role-playing game fanatic. They live with their widowed mother, Laurel (voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) in New Mushroomton. Their father, Wilden Lightfoot, died shortly before Ian born. As the story opens, it is Ian’s 16^th birthday and Laurel gives the brothers a gift from Wilden: a magical staff, a rare gem, and a letter describing a visitation spell so the boys can resurrect their father for one day. When Ian accidently only resurrects their father’s lower half, the brothers are now in a race against time to fully resurrect their father. 

Onward is a funny and heartwarming adventure that audiences have come to expect from Pixar. Although, a few reviewers have pointed out that it has become a bit too cliched. For me, it was an emotional as it deals with death, loss and trying to capture experiences one never had a chance to have as Ian never had the memories of his father that Barley did. I also liked the musical score. I especially liked the song that Barley played plays in his van. It suggests Vikings and great battles. The end credit song, “Carried Me With You,” performed by Brandi Carlile, is an emotionally charged song about not taking love for granted and accepting love even when you don’t feel its deserved. One of my favorite lyrics is “To the darkness of the blue/I was just too blind to see/Like a lighthouse in a storm/You were always guiding me.” I like the lesson Ian learns along way as he gains confidence in himself, although it is a theme used quite often.

As no movie is without faults, there are a few things about the film I did not like. While I did enjoy the film, it felt like a Frozen II film for boys. A sibling adventure story for brothers rather than sisters. Also, the use of mythical creatures didn’t really add to the story. The filmmakers could have used human characters and the movie would have been just as good. It is also a film that I wasn’t overly excited to watch for the story concept didn’t grab my attention. I only watched it because my eight-year-old daughter wanted to when it was released on Disney+. She thoroughly enjoyed it and watched again the next day and watched it a third time with her dad. The animation is as expected from Pixar; however, it does not have the stunning beauty of Coco or the heart of Toy Story or Finding Nemo.

Overall, Onward is a good movie with magic, mythical creatures and a theme that we all could relate to. It may be hard to watch for individuals have lost a parent, especially early in life, as it may be too relatable. However, I wouldn’t say it was a reason not to see this film. While it had a few flaws and may be the adventure story we’ve all seen before, it is still an entertaining movie that I think families will enjoy. I recommend watching Onward as the heartwarming and funny adventure story that is expected from Disney and Pixar. 

The Rise of Skywalker: a odd ending to a disjointed sequel trilogy

The final episode of the sequel trilogy was released on December 20, 2019. Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker was an anticipated movie as fans hoped that the questions left open in The Force Awakens (2015) and The Last Jedi (2017) would be answered and bring a satisfying ending to the sequel trilogy. Unfortunately, there is very little about Rise of Skywalker I enjoyed. After watching the film, not once, not twice but three times. I can see why so many fans were disgusted with this film. The sequel trilogy was too rushed. All three films were released in four years when the original and prequel trilogies were released in six years. So, for this review, I will discuss the problems I saw with Rise of Skywalker and the sequel trilogy. I also have a few thoughts about what it is to be a Star Wars fan now.

There is no cohesiveness in the sequel trilogy. From The Force Awakens (2015), to The Last Jedi (2017) to Rise of Skywalker (2019), there is no real center to the trilogy. There is no central villain as The Last Jedi saw Snoke killed off and Rise of Skywalker brought back Emperor Palpatine who was not mentioned in the first two films. The only connectedness to this trilogy is the reappearance of the main characters: Rey, Finn, Poe and Kylo Ren/Ben Solo. The original trilogy, Episodes IV-VI, had the fight against Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine. The prequel trilogy, Episodes I-III, had the rise of Palpatine to emperor as well as the development of Darth Vader from Anakin Skywalker. There was an overall arc that connected the actions and events in the trilogies that are missing the sequel trilogy. The overall story of the sequel trilogy feels like they brainstormed ideas and decided to just add it all. There were too many writers with too many ideas, and they didn’t know how, or wanted to, to edit it down. Between the three movies, there are seven different writers with the only overlap with JJ Abrams co-writing The Force Awakens and Rise of Skywalker.

Second, there are just too many questions left unanswered. There are questions about Kylo Ren/Ben Solo. How does Kylo Ren become a good guy so quickly and so completely? From my reading on fan theories and comments, the sequel trilogy could be about Ben Solo’s internal struggle between his heroic and villainous natures which is a good idea but the movie doesn't do the idea justice. His return to the Light Side is so sudden and left unexplained in Rise of Skywalker. What does he do to redeem himself? Darth Vader saved Luke from Palpatine, what did Ben do? There are questions about the Emperor. How did Emperor come back to life? How and when did Palpatine have a son? As his personal life is left unmentioned in the prequel trilogy, this revelation seems to come out of left field. Other questions include: Who were the Knights of Ren? They are mentioned throughout the trilogy; however, they aren’t really seen until Rise of Skywalker and even that sequence was a let down to some fans. Also, what exactly is a Force dyad? Who was Snoke and how did he become Supreme Leader? One question I was most interested in learning was how did Maz Kanata get Luke’s original lightsaber? How was it retrieved from Cloud City? It would have been an interesting story to hear. It was raised in The Force Awakens as Maz says “A good question - for another time.” However, we may never hear it now. These are just some of the questions fans have asked. A quick search on the internet would find so much more.

Before Disney acquired the Star Wars, fans were ridiculed and mocked for being fans. Suddenly, now that it’s a Disney brand, its cool and hip to be a Star Wars fan. According to these new fans, a true fan cannot dislike a Star Wars film or have any criticisms about it. To be a fan now means you must like everything about the franchise. Since when can’t a fan be critical of a franchise he or she likes? Why can’t he or she point something out that doesn’t fit? Unfortunately, it is a trend I am seeing in more and more fandoms than just Star Wars. I have seen some fans hate something simply because it didn’t follow what they had thought should happen. Disliking something without evidence is just being spiteful. However, when legitimate arguments are made, the only counterargument I’ve heard is “well, they aren’t true fans then.” That’s not an argument, that’s being childish. I do want to acknowledge the toxic “fans” who openly threatened and bullied some of the actors from the films on social media, especially actress Kelly Marie Tran who played Rose Tico. That behavior is completely uncalled for and equally childish. While the character was not my favorite, it is not the actress’s fault that she was given horrible dialogue in a horrible story. Even if she did a horrible job acting, that is no reason to threaten or bully someone.

In conclusion, the sequel trilogy is like a great start to a new book which leaves you disappointed. The opening chapter set the scene to an exciting adventure. But as you read, doubt and confusion sets in. Rise of Skywalker is the last chapter of a very confusing and disjointed story. There were too many holes left in the plot. Too many questions left unanswered. Everything, including the kitchen sink, was thrown in as fan service, or just plain because they wanted to, which left a laughable and cringeworthy movie. If you have seen The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, I recommend you check out Rise of Skywalker. If you happen to like it, that’s fine. The sequel trilogy, unfortunately, is not a trilogy I will be watching again and again like I do with the original and prequel trilogies. It is unfortunate since the trilogy started strong.

Frozen II: a decent sequel

Frozen 2 was released into theaters on November 27, 2019 and is the sequel to smash hit Frozen (2013). Many from the original film return for its sequel. Directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez and composer Christophe Beck all return. As well as actors Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad and Jonathan Geoff returns as their characters: Anna, Elsa, Olaf and Kristoff. Frozen 2 is set three years after the original film when a new threat comes to Arendelle and it is up to Anna and Elsa to save the day. The movie is currently on DVD, Blu-Ray and streaming on Disney+. As I do with all my movie reviews, I will give a spoiler free synopsis and discuss what I did and didn’t like about the film.

The movie opens as King Agnar tells a story to a young Anna and Elsa about their grandfather, King Runeard, who established a treaty with the neighboring tribe of Northuldra who resides in the Enchanted Forest. Soon after, a fight occurs, resulting in Runeard’s death and enraging the elemental spirits of the forest. The spirits disappeared and a wall of mist traps everyone in the Enchanted Forest. Agnar barely escapes due to a mysterious savior, Fast forward to present day, life is going well in Arendelle. Until one night, Elsa hears a mysterious voice call out to her. After much resistance, she decides to follow it and causes the elemental spirits to awaken which forces everyone out of the kingdom. Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff and Sven embark on a journey to the Enchanted Forest to save the people of Arendelle and discover who the mysterious siren who calls to Elsa.

There are three major elements that I liked about the film. First, the story is great. Anna and Elsa discover the story they’ve been told about their grandfather and the Enchanted Forest may not be exactly the truth. In order to save Arendelle, they must discover what went wrong and the right that wrong. It also explains that there are three sides to the story: one side’s version, the other side’s version and somewhere in the middle is the truth. Second, I liked that there wasn’t a stereotypical “villain.” The fight is against the past and the attempts to right a wrong as much as anyone can. Although this was criticism in many reviews I read, I liked that the characters weren’t up against an evil person. Third, the idea that water has memory. Even though science has proven this to not be the case (but since when is science important in a fairy tale?), it is a theme I have heard before. Along with the idea that water is healing, having memory helps Anna and Elsa discover the truth behind the events which caused the Enchanted Forest to be sealed off and what they need to do to solve the problem.

There are a couple elements of the film that I didn’t care for. First, the music wasn’t on par with the original film. While “Into the Unknown” is a good song, it didn’t have the same impact as “Let it Go.” Olaf’s song, “When I am Older” had the same musical style of his song, “In Summer” from the first time. “In Summer” was a more enjoyable song as it was comedic as to Olaf’s blissful ignorance. “When I am Older” tried to capture that same comedic ignorance, but I feel it fell short. The music wasn’t bad and was enjoyable but wasn’t on the same lines of the first film. Second, Frozen 2 may not be as rewatchable as the first film. My daughter, who was 2 when she saw the first film had watched it over and over for years. Now she is 8 and enjoyed the first viewing of Frozen 2, but quickly got bored when watching it a second time.

In conclusion, Disney has always had a hit and miss history with it comes to sequels. The majority of their film’s sequels were direct to video. The Toy Story franchise has been insanely popular (although I would argue that the fourth film as not necessary) and broke the mold that sequels couldn’t be successful in theaters. Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) wasn’t as good as it’s original film and an unnecessary sequel. I enjoyed Frozen 2 for its story and, some level, the music. However, it wasn’t as memorable as its predecessor. I don’t see many children annoying the adults with their constant singing of “Into the Unknown” as they did with “Let it Go.” I do recommend Frozen 2. If you enjoyed the first film, you may enjoy its sequel.

Toy Story 4: a good family film that tells a similar story

When Toy Story was released in 1995, it was an instant hit and launched the Disney Pixar studio into stardom. Their future films have been major hits with a few misses, overall Pixar could be counted on for a great movie. However, when Disney Pixar announced that they were releasing a fourth Toy Story film, I was skeptical. Was a fourth film necessary? Toy Story 4 was released in theaters on June 21, 2019 to rave reviews and went on to earn $1.071 billion worldwide. It was released on Blu-ray, DVD and digital streaming in October 2019. I recently got the opportunity to watch the movie and while it was a good film, it told the same tired story.

The film opens 9 years ago, before the events of Toy Story 3 (2010) with Bo Peep (voiced by Annie Potts), her sheep and the lamp she stands on are donated to another family. Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) is determined to save her but Bo is refuses to return to the house, telling Woody she is not Andy’s toy and “it’s time for the next kid.” Woody reluctantly lets her go. Fast forward to the present day and life with Bonnie. Woody is not Bonnie’s favorite as she prefers to play with Jessie (voiced by Joan Cusack) and the others. That day is special as Bonnie is starting kindergarten and it is orientation. Woody thinks a toy should go with her despite hearing from Bonnie’s dad that toys are not allowed at school. Woody sneaks into her backpack and watches as she struggles in school. While at school, Bonnie creates Forky (voiced by Tony Hale) and instantly attached. For the final week before school officially starts, Bonnie and her parents go on vacation and while on vacation, Forky gets lost, Woody leaves to rescue him and the other toys must find a way to get Forky and Woody back before Bonnie realizes they are gone.

There are three things I liked about the film. First, it was a great story despite the familiar plot (I’ll get into that last). It had touching moments and great humor. It had the nostalgia about childhood toys and dreams while presenting a lesson about letting go and moving on with just memories to keep. Second, Woody’s place in the ending. I won’t discuss it, but it was a fitting ending. My husband and I both got misty eyed as it was a great moment. The ending of this film makes it clear that this is the final film. Even Tom Hanks in interview has hinted that this is the final film. Third, the Easter Eggs. You can always count on Pixar putting great Easter Eggs into their films. Whether it is a shout out to other Pixar films like Finding Nemo (2003) and Up (2009) or connections to the other Toy Story films.

There is one main thing I didn’t like about this film. The plot was too familiar. A toy needs to be recused. Toy Story (1995) has Woody trying to get himself and Buzz back to Andy when his jealous got them separated from him. Toy Story 2 (1999) had Buzz on a mission to rescue Woody after he was taken, and they must return before Andy returns home from camp. Toy Story 3 (2010) has Woody on a mission to rescue the others when they are mistakenly donated to a day care and he must do so before Andy leaves for college. Familiar? Very. Any story needs a villain. Something to fight against. The Toy Story films have evil toys. While the first film, technically didn’t have an evil toy, Woody was essentially the villain as his jealousy got him and Buzz into their desperate situation. The second film had The Prospector who was trying to keep Woody with the collection to the Japanese museum. The third film had Lotso who was like a mafia crime boss who used terror to control the weaker toys. The fourth film has Gabby Gabby (voiced by Christian Hendricks) who had henchmen to do her bidding.

Overall, it was a good film that kids will enjoy. However, it was just a rehash of previous plots and characters with just enough to make it look different. Children will enjoy this film as they have enjoyed the other Toy Story films. However, Pixar, if you are listening, Toy Story 4 needs to be the finale. All good things must come to an end and let Toy Story 4 be it. At some point, it stops being innovative and starts being lazy. Keep being innovative with new stories and characters and stop rehashing old ones.

Captain Marvel: an entertaining popcorn movie

Captain Marvel opened on March 8, 2019 and it was met with mixed reviews. Some loved it, some hated it and others didn’t know quite what to think. Many fans claimed the movie was filled with a feminist agenda. Directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, the pair also wrote the screenplay along with Geneva Robertson-Dworet. It stars Brie Larson as Carol Danvers/Vers/Captain Marvel, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, and Jude Law as Yon-Rogg. Many fans were upset that the filmmakers changed the origin story of Captain Marvel and the related characters. I was unfamiliar with the comic character going into the film, so I was curious to see if I would see the same things. I saw the film recently and there were things I did like and things I didn’t like.

The film opens with Vers waking up from a disturbing dream with flashes of a life she doesn’t recognize. She is a member of the Kree Starforce and Yon-Rogg (played by Jude Law) is her commander and mentor. The Kree and the Skrulls, a race of shapeshifters, have been embattled in a long war and during a mission, Vers is captured by the Skrulls. Talos (played by Ben Mendelsohn) and taps her mind in order find information. This action causes her to see more images she is unfamiliar with and she eventually escapes their shackles. During her escape, she crash lands on Earth. Soon after, she encounters Agent Fury (long before he is director of SHIELD) and they eventually team up to discover who she really is and what the Kree and the Skrulls are after on Earth. Vers finally learns who she really is and what happened that lead her to be on Hala, the Kree capital. She learns she has been lied to and who the true villain is in this story. The final battle ensues as she embraces her true identity. Before leaving Earth, Carol gives Fury a pager, designed to call her in an emergency.

There was a lot I did like about the film. First, the opening scroll, which usually features the various MCU characters, was used as a tribute to Stan Lee, who had passed away before the film’s release. That was cool and emotional to see. Second, I like the character of Carol Danvers. She’s the girl who got back up when everyone else told her to quit. A powerful message for everyone who has ever been told they can’t or shouldn’t do something or be something. And I liked Brie Larson as Carol. Many reviewers complained about her robotic acting; but it makes sense in the context of the story. She had been molded by the Kree for six years with no memory, she was vulnerable to what they told her. Yon-Rogg tells her during a fight training scene, “There’s nothing more dangerous to a war than emotion. Humor is a distraction. Anger only serves the enemy” (since when is humor an emotion, but I digress). By the end of the film, she does lighten up a bit, laughs and smiles.  Third, I enjoyed the explanation on how Nick Fury lost his eye. Many people thought it was weak, but it makes sense. In Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Nick tells Steve Rogers “Last time I trusted someone, I lost an eye.” We learn in this film, that it was Goose, a Flerken disguised as a cat. In a previous scene, after Goose had devoured a few enemies, Fury picks up Goose and says, “I’m trusting you not to eat me.” So, Fury wasn’t lying when he said he trusted someone who eventually took his eye.

Now for what I didn’t like. First, the soundtrack. It was underwhelming. Yes, they were hit songs from the 90s, with one or two exceptions. Majority of the songs were great like Heart’s Crazy on You and TLC’s Waterfalls, but others were annoying obvious like No Doubt’s Just a Girl. While they were great songs, they just did not feel like they belonged or had the same impact that both Guardians of the Galaxy soundtracks did. It was almost like they just randomly decided to play a song here or there, apart from Just a Girl. However, the musical score by Pinar Toprak was good and I enjoyed it as I watched. Second, the de-aging was off. I got used to Fury’s younger face, but Coulson’s was kind of creepy and hard to watch. Luckily, he wasn’t in much of the film. Third, the overall feel of the film was fragmented. It had great buddy moments between Carol and Fury and between Carol and her friend, Maria (played by Lashana Lynch). It had entertaining fight scenes and humorous moments. But it didn’t feel cohesive.

In conclusion, overall, I enjoyed this film. It wasn’t as bad as I was led to believe. However, it wasn’t a great that was claimed by others. It’s not my favorite MCU film, but I will watch it again. The film vaguely connects to the other films; but you do not need to see this film in order to watch Avengers: Endgame (2019). I also did not see the so-called “feminist agenda” that many reviewers have claimed. There was certainly a message of empowerment but not just for girls. I can see how anyone can be empowered by this story. It has the message that we all need to work together as a team, just as Captain Marvel and Nick Fury needed each other to win the day. I recommend Captain Marvel.

How to Train Your Dragon Hidden World movie review

How to Train Your Dragons Hidden World opened in the US on February 22, 2019 to rave reviews. I loved the other films in the trilogy and was eager to see this one. Unfortunately, I was unable to see it in theaters. The Blu-ray and DVD were released on May 21 and I was determined to buy it. Hidden World is the last film in this trilogy, and we must say goodbye to this beautiful world and these outlandish but lovable characters. Always visually stunning with great characters, great moments and send off worthy of this wonderful series.

The film opens one year after the events of How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014), Hiccup (played by Jay Baruchel) and his friends continue to rescue captured dragons. He brings them back to Berk where he has created a dragon-human utopia. Unfortunately, his place has resulted in an overpopulation of dragons. The villagers urge Hiccup to marry Astrid (played by America Ferrera) and take a larger role as chief. Unwilling to take that next step, Hiccup is determined to keep the dragons with them. He wants to find the Hidden World, a place his late father told him about as a child. Meanwhile, a white female Fury (dubbed Light Fury by Astrid) is discovered by Toothless. Unknown to Hiccup, the Light Fury is being used as bait by the infamous dragon hunter, Grimmel (played by F. Murray Abraham) in order to capture Toothless. As Hiccup searches for the Hidden World, he must decide whether to free Toothless and the other dragons or spend a lifetime fighting those who want to hurt them.

I loved this film. First, I love the characters. They have grown with each film; however still struggle with their insecurities/weaknesses. Hiccup is a great example. The boy would couldn’t or wouldn’t kill a dragon has grown in a man who hasn’t quite figured out his role as chief. He’s reluctant to marry Astrid, not because he doesn’t want to because he fears his dragon riding days are over. With the help of Astrid (who is my favorite character), he realizes that its time to say goodbye. Second, I like that the movie features a moral or lesson that we don’t have to be alone to solve our problems. We find strength, encouragement and solutions as we lean on others for support, advice and help. That we are better together as a partnership or a team than we are alone. Valka, Hiccup’s mother (played by Cate Blanchett) tells Astrid, “He thinks he has to lead alone.” Being a great leader means having a great team around him or her. Third, I love the theme that in life, sometimes we must lose who or what we love. In a flashback scene, Stoick (played by Gerard Butler) gives his son this lesson. “With love comes loss, son. It’s part of the deal. Sometimes it hurts, but in the end, its all worth it. There’s no greater gift than love.”

There were a few things I didn’t like. First, I was told and expecting a huge emotional response with the goodbyes in the film. While it was bittersweet to see Hiccup and Toothless say goodbye, it was not the emotional impact I was expecting. Maybe because I knew it was coming? Maybe because it wasn’t the goodbye, I thought it would be to warrant an emotional response? I’ve read reviews where people said they left the theater in tears and I saw nothing that was as a tearjerker. It was definitely not the emotional impact that Disney’s Coco (2017) had. Second, the villain Grimmel. While F. Murray Abraham played a great villain, the villain fell short for me. He reminds me of Drago, the villain from the second film. While Drago wanted to build a dragon army, Grimmel wants to rid the world of dragons as he sees them as an inferior species. Also, his role in the story was over too quickly. He shows up, they battle, and its over. Third, the flirtatious competition between Snotlout (played by Jonah Hill) and Eret (played by Kit Harrington) for Valka’s attention. It’s creepy and goes on too long and even gets creepier when Valka returns the flirts at the end.

Overall, I enjoyed this film and it is a fitting goodbye to these characters and the lovable dragons. The characters were great with Hiccup struggling to find himself as chief. Astrid as his confidante and partner as he learns to lead his people. The lesson of leadership and how great leaders don’t lead alone. And the hard lesson that sometimes we must say goodbye to those we love. I highly recommend How to Train Your Dragon Hidden World as well as the first two films, if you haven’t seen them. The trilogy is great for the entire family.

Avengers: Endgame review warning: possible spoilers

It all started in 2008 with Iron Man. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) seemed to come out of nowhere and dominate the superhero genre. Now 22 films in, The Infinity Saga is coming to a dramatic end with Avengers: Endgame. The anticipation has been high, and the fan theories have been flying around since last year’s Avengers: Infinity War. And how the world can see what happens to the heroes. With a runtime of 3 hours and 1 minute, Endgame proved to be an exciting, emotional ride with a satisfying ending to this saga and opens the door to new heroes and new stories. What is the basic story of the film? What did I like? And what am I looking forward to?

The film opens 23 days after The Snap, the Avengers are searching for Thanos and the Stones in order to undo everything. Fast forward 5 years, the world is struggling to move forward. Monuments have gone up to honor the disappeared and governments are being pieced back to together as the world moves on. The Avengers are scattered, barely together as they deal with the aftermath and trying to find a way to bring everyone back. When a plan comes together, they must travel to uncharted territories and face new challenges they couldn’t train for and fight for the hope that they can restore the world’s population to what it was.

There is so much about this movie and in order to avoid as many spoilers as I can, I will discuss a few aspects that I enjoyed about the film. First, to see how everyone reacts differently in the aftermath of The Snap. Captain America tries counseling a few survivors. Thor sinks into a deep depression. Black Widow takes a leadership role in the Avengers and tries to keep everything running. And Tony runs from it all and makes a quiet life in the country. Second, I liked how the writers dealt with the time travel aspect. With many Hollywood films using their own version of time travel and Endgame discusses many of them and why they don’t work, I liked how they use the Quantum Realm and the Pym Particle. Third, I loved Hawkeye’s character in Endgame. He has been one of my favorite characters in the MCU since his quiet introduction in Thor (2011) and I loved how he has evolved. Even turning into a vigilante after his family vanishes, he still wasn’t willing to let his best friend sacrifice herself in order to get the Soul Stone. They battle over it. Despite his loss, despite the face they were trying to get everyone back, he was still willing to sacrifice himself to accomplish their mission.

This is usually when I discuss what I didn’t like about a film. However, there was very little I didn’t like about Endgame. So instead, I’m going to discuss what I’m looking forward to as the MCU movies into its next phase. First, Spiderman: Far from Home (opens July 2, 2019). I look forward to seeing Peter as he deals with the events of Infinity War and Endgame. How does he move forward? I am interested in seeing how the MCU will introduce the multiverse as the movie trailer hints that they might. Second, the other film featuring Marvel characters that I am not familiar with such as The Eternals and Shang-Chi. No exact dates have been set for these films yet. It will be exciting to see new characters and new stories in the MCU. Third, the sequels to the other films like Doctor Strange 2 and Black Panther. I am even looking forward to the Black Widow standalone film. I am also looking forward to the streaming shows that are planned for the Disney + service. The next phases of the MCU will be exciting.

In conclusion, Avengers: Endgame is a great ending to the 22 film, 11 year build up that has captivated audiences around the world. While it has been bittersweet to say goodbye to the storyline and even some of the characters that I have watched in action for 11 years; however, the future looks bright for the MCU. My only hope is that they keep up with the quality of stories and characters as they did with the Infinity Saga. One piece of advice though, if you have not seen the majority of the MCU films, then there will be much of Endgame that will be missed. I recommend watching all the MCU films. It will be worth it.