Reviews

I'm honestly not really sure what to say about this movie. I'd heard great things about it, and then I'd heard about a few who just didn't like it. And I'm surprised to say I think I find myself in the camp of the latter. I usually prefer the psychological thriller over the straight up slasher/horror film and I was happy when a few minutes in I was able to tell that it would be more of the first. The problem was that it really wasn't very thrilling either. There wasn't really a lot to figure out, no twist ending, no back story, not even a surprising event to speak of. The glaring plot holes were blatant and hard to overlook and once it was obvious that there wouldn't be much development, the plot itself became monotonous and tiring. While there was a certain level of suspense associated with simply watching our heroes try to live their lives in silence, I was still expecting more. Where did these creatures come from? Aren't they going to go looking for other people? How is it that the sound of static from a hearing aid is the weakness? WHY DID JOHN KRASINSKI HAVE TO DIE?? Seriously. It's not like it serves any purpose. They're right back where they started. Why are they so inconsistent with what the monster can and can't hear? Why didn't they get rid of that nail after one person stepped on it? How did Emily Blunt give birth in ten minutes? How did she hold on her screams while in labor until the monster left? What's the long term plan here? I mean, eventually they're all gonna die of old age if nothing else. Are the kids gonna have to repopulate the earth? Are they going to go looking for more people? I don't really get it.

There were several things about this movie that I REALLY enjoyed. They did a phenomenal job with the sound, using virtually none until we needed to hear it. I haven't seen a movie with so little sound since the days of Charlie Chaplin, and I was surprised to say how effective I found the use of sound to be. John Krasinski's direction was really great and I look forward to the day when we get to see something else from him, because I think he definitely has promise. This particular time, though, I'm left underwhelmed. And I'm sad to say it because I was really looking forward to this movie, but there just wasn't enough there to keep me entertained.

However, I did actually enjoy the last shot. I know some people don't like the "we're going into battle and we may or may not survive" ending, but I actually found it to be the first really surprising plot choice the movie made.

The Truman Show is flawless in every sense of the world. It's a metaphor for everything, for so much of what is wrong with the world. It's a commentary on what people want, what they crave, and how they operate. It deals with how much power one person can have over another, how you can't keep a person from being independent. There are many that say that the end of the movie was a cop-out, that he should have gotten revenge. I say it is completely perfect the way it is. It proves that the most basic human instinct is to know, to learn, and to be independent.

So many movies try to be revolutionary, to be a metaphor for life and fall woefully short. Sometimes it's because the metaphor doesn't speak the way it should, sometimes it's simply because the quest for profoundness has stripped the movie of its entertainment value. This movie does neither. It speaks volumes, but it's still entertaining. And I don't think there is a movie ending that moves me to tears quite as frequently. I don't think there ever will be.

Let me start out by saying, I loved this movie. It didn't pretend to be anything it wasn't, it was just fun- something I usually look for in a movie. The problem is, the critics of this movie are trying to shoehorn it into categories it has no business being in, trying to force it into being something it's not. Well, then what is it? In order to answer that question, we must first answer the question of what it is not.

1. It's not a copycat, 1950's musical. I will admit, I loved some of the throwbacks to the old timey musicals of the glory days of Hollywood. Singing in the Rain is probably my all time favorite movie, so seeing La La Land pay homage to it, as well as some other classics, certainly made me happy. But that's all it was: an homage. This movie certainly had the feel of the iconic '50s musical ,but it's not. It's a modern adaptation of those musicals, one which allows us to see the flaws in the '50s musical way of looking at life.Comparing this film to others will not allow you to see it for what it truly is: a gem in and of itself .

2. It's not a mind bender. While there are definitely lessons and messages to be taken from this movie, reading to much into it causes you to lose sight of what it truly is. While there's certainly a place for the mind blowing, soul searching storytelling that we see in movies like Inception and Schindlers List, there's also a place for a story that just allows you to enjoy yourself, to laugh, maybe cry a little, to sit back and sing along as you allow yourself to have a good time.

So we've established what it's not, what it doesn't need to be compared to, so then what is La La Land?

1. It's a reversal of the traditional Hollywood stereotypes. You know the kind. The aforementioned '50s musicals are famous for them, although there are countless other examples throughout cinematic history. Boy with dreams meets girl with dreams, love gets in the way of dreams, love finds a way to overcome all odds, guy and girl both get to live our dreams with the love of their lives and ride off into the sunset together. Roll credits. How many movies do you know that fit that storyline? Because I can think of about a dozen off the top of my head. That's not how real life works, ladies and gentlemen. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you want to fulfill your dreams, or if you want to have a classic Hollywood romance, you're going to have to make sacrifices. Likely, you're going to have to choose one over the other. This film does what I've seen no other do: it allows the characters to make those sacrifices, to separate amicably, and still be happy. They don't regret their decisions. They are happy, even though they wish they didn't have to make those sacrifices. Through the traditional Hollywood ending that it montages at the end, you see how the musicals of old would have ended this film, what it could be. And then you see what is. The reality of the struggles of being a musician, of being an actress. It's hard. It takes sacrifice. And it allows the audience to see the effects of that sacrifice.

2. The music parallels what's happening in the story and continues the reversing of Hollywood stereotypes. A Lovely Night is essentially the polar opposite of every Hollywood meeting. And it's exactly what happens in real life. They know they like each other. We know they like each other. But they're not about to admit it to the other one. In fact, they're going to sing for 2 minutes about how they don't like each other. And Start a Fire is essentially the Hollywood version of love. Like the music that they want Sebastian to play, Start a Fire is a representation of what Hollywood pretends romance to be: dumbed down for the masses, all passion and no substance. Likewise, The Fools Who Dream glamorized the appeal of a career in Hollywood. It's all about the perks, and nothing about the hard labor and the sacrifices. . Perfectly placed and expertly written, the soundtrack is an excellent contrast to what a traditional Hollywood film would have done with this storyline. It allows you to see what Hollywood would have done with it, while at the same time, turning the whole notion on its head with the story itself .

3. It allows you to have fun. As I said, this movie can be sad, particularly at the end. And yet, it's thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. It doesn't pretend to be anything it isn't. It's sappy. It's cheesy. The actors aren't the best singers or dancers. So what? It's fun. It made me laugh. It made me cry. It made me go out and buy the soundtrack, for goodness sakes, something I rarely ever do. It's just fun. And it proves that movies don't have to be any more than that.

So let the critics rail on this movie. Let them say it's overrated. I still maintain that they're trying to make it into something it was never meant to be. And I firmly believe that, if you see it for what it is, you will enjoy it just as much as I did. Say what you want, but I will be belting out every word to The Fools Who Dream in my car for years to come.

I love Agatha Christie. And then there were none is one of my all time favorite books, so when I find out about this movie and it's rave reviews, I had to watch it, but I was sorely disappointed. The movie is called And Then There Were None. They all have to die!! The ending ruined a very well made movie by completely destroying what was already a perfect ending. I enjoyed it until about the last 10 minutes, where I was sure Agatha Christie was rolling over in her grave while one of her most famous masterpieces was being murdered almost as brutally as her characters. It's a shame that they decided to Hollywood-ise this ending that was perfect already. If I had never read the book, I probably would have liked this movie, all though it is weird that the ending doesn't match the title. However, I now strongly advise that you skip the movie and read the book instead. It will be well worth your time.

Let's start with the characters. Moana is overly optimistic and superstitious, Maui is way too self involved, the grandmother is certifiable, and the father is willing to let his own people starve and his island die so that he doesn't have to confront his past. Then there's the music. The ocean song is kind of fun, but all the others are awful! Maui's is all about how he's some kind of gift of the gods, and then there's that weird song that the crab sings... And the plot! Every other Disney training montage shows a gradual change, but all through this movie, people just know how to do things! And Moana never accomplishes anything without someone else's help- Maui, her grandmother, the ocean... And Maui suddenly changes his mind about helping for no reason. And who didn't see it coming that the land goddess had become the lava monster. And let's not even talk about the sentient coconuts... Come on, Disney! You're supposed to be better than this.

I am a sucker for a romcom. They're not usually the most well written or unpredictable (all thought there are a few exceptions out there). This movie is one such exception. It starts out as a simple story of a girl picking between two guys, both equally likable, but one considerably more well off than the other. Then you start to notice how the two stories mirror each other. They go on the same dates, although one is always much more upscale than the other, they are both writers, though one is making a better living at it. And then at the end, it all just clicks. The one never really existed at all, but was a more charismatic version of the other-- the one the publisher was looking for. And the secret she had to tell wasn't about another guy, but that she couldn't have children. Looking back on it, it's one of those where it leads you to believe that the guy actually exists, but you realize that he never actually talks to anyone or meets anyone but the main character. (I'm thinking of another movie here, but I'm not going to spoil the ending to one movie while reviewing another. Those of you who have seen it will know what I'm talking about.) It all just made sense at the end. It was, in my opinion, the perfect ending.

Pixar is a phenomenal studio that has produced countless instant classics over the past 20 years. This movie is the end of the streak. First off, there is absolutely no plot. This little dinosaur is supposed to kill this little caveman boy for his father (who seems like a real price of work by the way) and the whole ordeal ends up killing his father and the dinosaur floats away with the caveman boy and the two become unlikely friends as they both search for their families. The caveman boys family is hardly developed at all and we have no idea why he is abandoned and forced to steal food from a dinosaur family. As they go on their little journey, there is little to no plot. Not only that, but this film is not at all original. In fact, it seemed like a complete rip off of the lion king. You know, little animal is not taken seriously, father killed under circumstances that may or may not be the fault of the child. Child goes on journey of self discovery and takes his place as the head of the family. In fact, even the fathers death scene was reminiscent of the lion king. And it was much sadder the first time. In short, this movie is not worth your time. Go watch toy story instead. Remind yourself what Pixar used to be. Better yet, watch the lion king. It's exactly the same story.