The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[Pondosinatra]

The Lords of Salem



Director: Rob Zombie

Main Stars: Sheri Moon Zombie, Bruce Davison, Jeff Daniel Philips, Patricia Quinn, Ken Foree

Rating: 4 out of 5

Heidi (Zombie) is a recovering drug addict and member of the late night crew at the local radio station. One day a mysterious record shows up which they play on the air, releasing a hellish cacophony of otherworldly notes. Soon after Heidi starts to lose her grip on reality as she is increasingly haunted by disturbing visions. I simply couldn't wait for Halloween and had to see this. While watching, I kept thinking to myself 'This is a Rob Zombie film'??? Beautiful is an apt description as it's visually gorgeous to behold. Everything is cast in an eerie and soft light which works well with the retro look of the movie. Retro would also describe the feel of the film. Unlike most of the modern day dreck that passes as horror, the viewer isn't bombarded with sequence after sequence of quick edits designed to make you jump. Instead everything is presented in a cold, detached viewpoint and there's an underlying sense of dread that slowly continues to build until the movie reaches its conclusion. There's so many nods to and cues from previous greats. It's as if Kubrick, Polanski and Ken Russell had a baby together. As for the casting, Patricia Quinn and Ken Foree were pleasant surprises. I recognized Foree instantly as he is an icon, but it took me awhile to realize who Quinn was (think Rocky Horror). About the only issue I had was the ending wasn't quite as good as I feel it should have been - still, the positives more than outweigh the negatives. Critics automatically dismiss his films as garbage, and his fan base likely will be divided as it's a significant departure from his earlier works. That said, I think this is easily his best effort and a great addition to the genre.

[Astro Zombie]

It's difficult to describe the profound impact this movie has had on me. While I never experienced it in theaters during its original run, I grew up watching and adoring it, like many kids of my generation. It's my entire childhood wrapped up in a 127-minute film, and even after countless rewatches, its magic has never been lost on me.

Spielberg is a smart filmmaker, so he knows you don't want to give everything away at once. We get fleeting glimpses of a dinosaur in the opening scene, and slowly but surely Spielberg builds anticipation. We're like Dr. Grant, eager to see exactly what we're gonna discover at Jurassic Park. The reveal of the Brachiosaurus is a brilliant moment, one of the most magical in all of cinema, and just like Dr. Grant, the audience is in awe of what they're witnessing. Can you imagine how audiences must have reacted back in 1993? CGI had been around for a while, sure, but never had it been used like this. You truly believed these dinosaurs were real, and even 20+ years later these effects hold up wonderfully. Even better is the animatronic work by Stan Winston and his crew, creating life-size models of these dinosaurs that make the interactions with the characters all the more real and terrifying.

And Jurassic Park is terrifying. Spielberg lures you in with the magic before pulling the rug out from under you, and it's over an hour into the movie before we get our first real action sequence (it's a testament to the pacing that it never once feels boring). It's the centerpiece of the film, the T-Rex attack, and it is absolutely intense. From that point on the film becomes a non-stop thrill ride, with several superbly crafted sequences keeping us on the edge of our seats.

I'm sure there are people out there more objective than me who can pick out some flaws. But any flaws are inconsequential. This is perfectly-engineered blockbuster entertainment, and it's one of the films that most perfectly captures the magic of cinema. I haven't even mentioned John Williams' iconic score, so emotional and powerful I can't imagine the movie without it. It's not just a movie to me, it's the movie, the defining movie of my childhood, the one that started it all, and even if it's not my #1 favorite movie, I know deep down in my heart it'll never be outclassed.

5/5

Review

[Astro Zombie]

Honestly, I hold the same affection for this sequel that I do for the first one. Whether it's nostalgia that's clouding my judgement is an argument for another time, but The Lost World remains highly enjoyable even if it doesn't measure up to the iconic first film.

The thing I like most about it is that Spielberg and co. decided to go in a completely different direction. They rightly figured the magic of the first film would never be recaptured, so instead they made what is essentially a dino-action flick. No longer are the dinosaurs kept in hiding until the big reveal; right from frame one we're shown these animals in their natural habitat. The film takes place on another island this time, a "lost world" as its called, with no fences and no protection. We're introduced to all-new characters save for a scene-stealing Jeff Goldblum and a brief cameo from Richard Attenborough. Even John Williams does things differently this time, substituting the sweeping score of the first for a more tribal, jungle-flavored score, complete with booming drums. It's inspired work from Williams, and from Spielberg himself in general, and I think this gives the film a huge advantage instead of being seen as a simple retread of the first.

The tone is a bit darker this time around, another interesting change, maybe due to Spielberg himself maturing as a director around this time, and becoming tired with blockbusters. But if this is Spielberg on autopilot, it's still damn impressive work, with a string of fantastic set-pieces littered throughout, including the famous cliff sequence, which is about as edge-of-your-seat as they come. Then there's that other famous sequence: the T-Rex in San Diego, which many point to as cheesy and unnecessary. Personally, I love it, it's a wonderful throwback to old monster movies and a lot of fun.

Maybe it was simply a cash-grab sequel, maybe Spielberg put minimal effort into it (the crew getting killed on the boat by...what, exactly, is still a hilarious oversight), and maybe it is a bit cheesy. But the end product is still a thrilling piece of entertainment and one of my favorites 90s blockbusters.

4/5

Review

[Astro Zombie]

This movie definitely peaks too early. It starts off well enough, we get an interesting opening scene, we meet our new characters, none of which are particularly good characters, but whatever. Then we get to the island where we meet the newest addition to Jurassic Park: Spinosaurus. Now look, the Spinosaurus looks cool and all, but come on, it beats the T-Rex in like a minute, the Rex gets a shitty death, and we're just supposed to accept the Spino as our new champion? F**k that, bring back the Rex.

After the admittedly awesome battle sequence, the movie never really recovers. It's essentially one big chase sequence, which is fine, but any magic that was left in the series is pretty much gone at this point. Bringing back Dr. Grant was a good move, even if his character kinda acted like a dick at times. And the movie does pick up a bit during the bird cage scene; as a matter of fact, the Pterodactyls steal the show.

Then there's the problem with the ending, or rather lack thereof. Seriously, one minute the gang is surrounded by raptors, and one big deus ex machina later, the movie's over. But despite these nagging issues, I'll admit that I've always enjoyed the movie. It's not a patch on the first, or even the second for that matter, but as a simple theme park ride, it works. Now I'm just hoping that Jurassic World can recapture some of that dino magic.

3.5/5

Review

[Astro Zombie]

Well, no surprise here. I feel like a kid again.

Nostalgia can be a powerful thing. The original series holds a special place in my heart (yeah, even the sequels), so the prospect of a new JP film was incredibly exciting. While the trailers didn't seem to hype me up as much as I thought, revisiting the old movies recently got me back into dinosaur-mode, and my anticipation for Jurassic World grew significantly. Waiting in line to watch the movie, I was totally ready to be transported back to when I was a young kid, completely in awe with all things dinosaur. As the movie started up and I heard the familiar notes of John Williams' iconic score, a wave of nostalgia hit me right in the face, and I knew I was gonna be in for a treat.

I think Jurassic World is the sequel that comes closest to recapturing some of the magic of the original film. For the record, I'm of the opinion that Jurassic Park is untouchable in that regard; no sequel and very few movies in general can ever hope to match it in terms of pure magic. In fact, that's part of the reason why I'm such a big fan of The Lost World, the fact that it didn't try to recreate the magic and just did its own thing. But as far as attempts go, Jurassic World does a mighty fine job of rekindling some of that awe, if only for a small while. Seeing John Hammond's dream fully realized with that iconic theme playing in the background is breathtaking stuff.

Are there issues? Sure. Vincent D'Onofrio is a great actor, and I didn't find his character as grating as others did, but his entire subplot about trying to weaponize raptors was pretty bad. Some of the dialogue doesn't always work either, but I didn't find it to be that big a deal, and there's more than enough legitimately funny and clever dialogue to offset the bad. I was also slightly disappointed with the lack of animatronic use, but fortunately the CGI is mostly flawless (though somehow the original film still looks the best). Product placement was one issue others had that I found no problem with. The way people were describing it, I was expecting literal commercials in the middle of the movie. What I got was maybe 1-2 second snippets, and all related to the theme park itself. Add to that the fact that the movie itself makes fun of the product placement, so...if people hadn't pointed it out I probably wouldn't have even cared.

The movie is obviously not perfect, but then I'm not rating it based on perfection. It's a summer blockbuster of the highest order, incredibly crowd-pleasing, has a (for the most part) great cast, and best of all, the throwbacks to the original series are both subtle and tastefully done. There are scenes that literally made me wanna jump out of my seat in excitement, and by the time we reached the third act, I was smiling ear to ear. A completely worthy sequel.

One more thing: The Mosasaurus was f**king awesome.

4.5/5

Review

[Al_The_Strange]

Jurassic Park

"Life, uh... finds a way." - Jeff Goldblum
--------------------
Genetics can unlock the secrets of creating and growing biological life; we've already used these secrets to clone a sheep, to alter our crops, and it may allow us to repopulate endangered species. In his novel, Michael Crichton explored the unique and harrowing possibility that genetics could bring the dinosaurs back. when entrepreneurs try to turn the miracle of dinosaur cloning into a theme park attraction, chaos theory kicks in, proving that nature can't be tamed that easily.

Stephen Spielberg's adaptation of Crichton's novel takes the original premise, complete with its cautionary warnings, and delivers it as a fast-moving adventure film full of color, wit, and thrills. There are moments where the film emphasizes the whimsey and wonder of creation, but when the deadliest of predators are unleashed, there are a fair amount of harrowing, suspenseful chases that follow. One of the most chilling scenes shows the dreaded Tyrannosaurus Rex breaking lose from its paddock and laying waste to a pair of jeeps, threatening to crush and eat everybody trapped inside. Velociraptors rush through the jungles and buildings, threatening to devour human prey. What starts off as a wondrous "what if" scenario eventually devolves into a struggle for survival and escape; occasional bursts of comedy keeps the film lightweight, but with groundbreaking special effects, carefully-staged action, and characters worth caring about, the film offers a grand spectacle and a perfectly-entertaining blockbuster experience.

Much of the story is altered from the original book, but it's hardly an issue. On its own merits, the film tells the story it wants to and it does it well. It flips a few of the characters around so that there's a family dynamic at work. Most of the characters are likable, and the film sets them up so that we can understand them well and care for them when they're in danger. The plot unfolds spectacularly, continuously building in tension and action. Throughout the picture, the characters speculate and dig up fascinating themes about playing God with genetics; the film's events prove that all human attempts to control nature and force a structure will never work, and life will always find a way to break free and thrive on its own. These themes carry both wonder and terror, and the film emphasizes both aspects aptly.

This film is made with really good photography. Editing can be a little weak at times, but it is often punchy and good. Acting is pretty over-the-top, but it produces expressions and emotions that fit in perfectly with the film's tone. Sam Neill and Laura Dern are perfectly likable in their roles. Jeff Goldblum steals the show repeatedly with his character's wit and wisdom. Richard Attenborough has a great presence and personality as John Hammond. The kid characters put their best into it, and they do have some endearing moments that gives the film a more emotional punch. Bob Peck is cool, Martin Ferraro is a dude we love to hate, Wayne Knight is an even bigger dude we love to hate, Samuel L Jackson keeps it real, and everybody else is decent. This script is full of great lines, but some dialogue can be rather random, and it's all really low-key. Despite one or two shortcuts, this production uses good-looking sets, props, costumes, and creature effects. Special effects were fantastic for its time, and most of them still hold up to this day. John Williams' music score is catchy and emotional.

Jurassic Park is easily one of the best blockbusters, not only because of all its visual effects and thrills, but also because it has heart, and it has themes worth thinking about. It's a must-see.

4.5/5 (Experience: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Good)

Recommendation: Yes.
--------------------
On Blu-Ray (at least with the original "Ultimate Trilogy" box set, not sure how other editions are), the film looks good and sharp, but is prone to some slight DNR/EE which may make some shots look a little soft or noisy. Color and contrast are mostly-good. Noticed a little bit of jittering with the opening title cards (might be a source issue). Sound quality is pretty good.


PQ: 3.5/5, AQ: 3.5/5

[Al_The_Strange]

The Lost World: Jurassic Park

What you study, you change. - Jeff Goldblum
--------------------
In the events of Jurassic Park, an entrepreneur's dream of a living biological attraction ended with bloodshed and terror. Despite the threat of dinosaurs rampaging out of control, businessmen would still vie to reap the benefits of genetically-engineered beasts from "Site B."

This follow-up to the hit 1993 film aims to provide more of the same - wit, color, and action - but on a bigger scale. There are more dinosaurs to behold. People deploy more cool vehicles and weapons to hunt and capture them. More people get eaten, more are chased across the jungle, and it all leads up to a crazy finale where a T-Rex runs amok in San Diego. There are a lot of fun setpieces to behold.

There are a few things that mar the experience a little. Characters aren't quite as likable as in the first film; everyone's favorite chaotician returns and delivers plenty of sarcasm, but the family dynamic that's built around him doesn't congeal quite as well as it did with Dr. Grant and the kids in the first film. A lot of the characters in this film seem to make even dumber mistakes than in the first film, and many are unlikable. Some scenes are rather daft. Despite these issues, the plot takes off in interesting directions, showing how far a corporation will go to exploit nature. These events bring the threat of the dinosaur breakout to the civilized world in the end; the T-Rex's downtown carnage tends to be rather silly, but it does expand on the original theme that life cannot be controlled or tamed.

This film sports pretty good-looking photography and editing. It is a much more drab and darker film, with a lot of nighttime photography. Acting is okay for what it is: Jeff Goldblum returns with his signature wit, but his character isn't always likable as he's always yelling at others trying to get them to listen to reason. Julianne Moore is playful in her role, but her character makes a few dumb decisions. Peter Postlethwaite is cool, Arliss Howard plays a dork we love to hate, Peter Stormare is the same, and everybody else I could take or leave. Writing is okay; there are amusing lines, but the dialogue is not as effortlessly colorful and fun as the first film. This production uses top-notch sets, props, costumes, and special effects. John Williams' music score takes the original theme and transforms it into a wonderfully adventurous tune; I almost like it better than the first movie's theme.

The Lost World has plenty of thrills and fun, some of which is bigger and bolder than in Jurassic Park. It's only hampered a bit by a few characters making a few dumb decisions, and a few silly scenes here and there. I always felt it was a fun follow-up, and if you enjoyed the first film, this should be worth seeing once.

3.5/5 (Experience: Pretty Good | Story: Okay | Film: Good)

Recommendation: Rental.
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On Blu-Ray, this film looks good, with plenty of sharp detail and color/contrast levels. Like before though, it does have a few soft spots. Sound quality is okay.

PQ: 3.5/5, AQ: 3.5/5

[Al_The_Strange]

Jurassic Park III

"On this island there is no such thing as safe." - Sam Neill
--------------------
For a third time, dinosaurs terrorize people. This time, the people stumble across Site B (from the second movie), finding it a derelict place overrun by prehistoric wildlife, including bigger, badder, and smarter creatures.

There are a few good thrills to be had with Jurassic Park III. At this point, the special effects have been refined to look sharper and smoother, and there are still some huge animatronics being employed. Thus, you get a lot of good-looking dinosaurs running loose chasing people all over the island. This includes the epic Spinosaurous, which makes its introduction by fighting and defeating a T-Rex in mortal combat. There are also raptors everywhere, which use more cunning than before to hunt down their prey. On top of that, there's also some Pteranodons in a giant "bird cage" (from a scene that was in the original novel but never used before). The dinosaur action is modestly satisfying and pretty fun.

Unfortunately, the story leaves much to be desired. It is great to see Dr. Grant returning as the protagonist (and Dr. Sattler in a smaller role), but he winds up being surrounded by a bunch of the dumbest dorks imaginable. The whole plot revolves around an estranged and dippy couple that lost their son; they go so far as tricking and manipulating Grant and his protégé to the island. Once they all finally get there, it's just one dumb move after another, followed by lots of running and screaming. The film becomes a bit more endearing with the chase scenes, and the characters' human sides become apparent, but there are still some dumb things that happen that ruin all creditability (including watching a smartphone travel through a dinosaur's digestive system and somehow work underwater to relay an unintelligible message that somehow prompts the military to show up in the end...yeah right). Of all the faults with this film, however, the one thing that's always bothered me the most is that there's nothing new involved; it's just another island adventure with little connection to previous events, and nowhere else to go. The movie doesn't advance the arc of the series at all (though I haven't seen Jurassic World just yet, I have a feeling you can skip this one no problem), so it comes off as a mere throwaway adventure.

This film has good-looking photography, including some decent POV shots. Editing is solid. Sam Neill is as fun to watch as ever. Laura Dern is barely in the movie; what little screentime she has is fine and dandy. William H. Macey and Téa Leoni are excellent at playing the dippiest characters imaginable; Trevor Morgan does a fine job in his role; all the mercenary characters are fun to watch, and everybody else is just peachy. Writing is pretty weak, and there's hardly any dialogue that stands out. This production uses decent-looking sets, props, costumes, locales, and special effects. Music rehashes all the old themes.

This film has its share of cool action, and it often tries to recapture the same sense of wonder and whimsey that made the first film endearing. However, the plot doesn't hold much water, the characters are frustrating, and the whole movie doesn't leave as much of a lasting impact as the last two.

3/5 (Experience: Average | Story: Marginal | Film: Pretty Good)

Recommendation: Rental.
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On Blu-Ray, this film looks good, sharp, and clean. There might be some slight EE on there, but it's barely noticeable. For some odd reason, the film tends to look darker and more drab than I remember. Sound quality is okay (let's be real though, I was watching all of these on a crummy TV, so my AQ scores might be a little lower than if I watched it on a proper sound system).

PQ: 4/5, AQ: 3.5/5

[Diesel]

After seeing Jurassic World today and not having time to write up a full review...I can't wait to read Al's


In brief...it is my favorite film of the year, and favorite of the series. It is a different animal than the first film, but at the same time it is quite similar as well. While the first film had some strong beats as a monster film, it was ultimately about the characters involved. This one is flipped around in that it is more of a monster film but also has a couple of good characters. It also has the cheese nature you expect from some of the characters.

I absolutely loved it (I went in expecting a 3.5/5) and cannot wait to watch it again.

Rating - 4.75/5

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by Diesel

After seeing Jurassic World today and not having time to write up a full review...I can't wait to read Al's


In brief...it is my favorite film of the year, and favorite of the series. It is a different animal than the first film, but at the same time it is quite similar as well. While the first film had some strong beats as a monster film, it was ultimately about the characters involved. This one is flipped around in that it is more of a monster film but also has a couple of good characters. It also has the cheese nature you expect from some of the characters.

I absolutely loved it (I went in expecting a 3.5/5) and cannot wait to watch it again.

Rating - 4.75/5

And your rating had nothing to do with Star-Lord?

Possibly going to see this next weekend. I have movie money from finally buying the originals (the two Target had so far), so I'm at least hoping to make it out to the theater.

[Riddhi2011]

Review of Jurassic World (3D)

It is difficult to revive a two decade old franchise and perhaps impossible to top it. Jurassic Park (1993) directed by Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg still stands to this very day as a success story of the imagination, hard work and technical brilliance of a group of artistes who had very limited tools to tell the tale of dinosaurs brought back to life through the miracle of science. Based on the novel by late Michael Chrichton, Spielberg’s film went on to win the hearts of audiences and critics alike, across the world and took home three Academy awards. Jurassic World (2015) directed by Colin Trevorrow whose only significant work till date has been the indie-hit Safety Not Guaranteed (2012), puts the sulking franchise back on its feet, and with much aplomb!

It has been 22-years since John Hammond’s dream of opening an exhibit with real dinosaurs went haywire in Isla Nublar; a fictional island off the coast of Costa Rica. Simon Masrani (Irrfan Khan), owner of Masrani Global, a multinational corporation, has brought Hammond’s dream to life, and now, the Park is open to all. Isla Nublar’s Jurassic World receives roughly 20,000 visitors every day and has been open for some time. However, in this age of rapid innovation, where everything is bought and sold at the drop of a hat, people have become bored of “just dinosaurs”. So the park attendance falls and the CEO, investors want something “bigger, with more teeth” and lo and behold, the Indominus Rex is born; a genetically modified hybrid, made using combining dna from various animals, both present-day and prehistoric. In a subtle way, the movie is a comment on the corporate obsession with genetic engineering, especially in the GMO sector, which is a thorn of contention with most environmentalists and farmers.

At this point, we meet a familiar face, Dr Henry Wu (B.D. Wong) who explains that the hybrid was "designed to be bigger than a T-Rex." It is then no wonder that the dinosaur equivalent of Frankenstein’s monster will escape and wreak havoc on the park’s occupants, man and animal alike. Wu here is much more like his novel counterpart. We get to see that his ambition overrides his ethics and that human losses to him are just "regrettable".

What is great about this movie is that despite the sheer scale and scope of the set-pieces and the explosive action sequences, the humans never become second-fiddle. All the characters, especially those of Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Irrfan Khan, Vincent D’Onofrio and the two kids played by Ty Simpkins and Nick Robinson get their moments to shine. And the story is crafted in such a way that they get to wrap their character-arc in a good way. Bryce Dallas Howard’s Claire, who begins as a nervous corporate manager doing everything by the book, gradually turns into a protective and brave person fighting for the lives of others while risking her own. There is a natural chemistry between Pratt and Howard which makes the audience root for them.

The film's villain being a Dinosauris no secret and she rips apart the park bit by bit. DNA from various animal sources make her the perfect Frankenstein's monster. The Human baddie played by D’Onofrio is a bit undercooked but nothing egregious. He is the face of the now corrupted InGen technologies and gets his comeuppance with a violent death. Good riddance.

However, who the audience will root for most, are the unlikely heroes – the dinosaurs. Perhaps the best aspect of this film is the complex bond between the human lead Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and his four Velociraptors – Blue, Delta, Charlie and Echo. And this bond plays a pivotal role during the climax in a way that will make one cheer and clap with joy. And the climax is also very significant because it marks the return of an icon who was the unlikely saviour at the end of Spielberg’s original. The bonus – She’s the same animal.

In terms of technical achievements, the film lensed by John Schwartzman (The Amazing Spider-Man, Saving Mr Banks) has a gorgeous cinematography and beautiful music by Michael Giacchino (Star Trek, Mission Impossible: Ghost protocol). Giacchino pays homage to the original themes by John Williams in both bold and subtle ways but for the most part the music is original and is appropriately uplifting, tender and tragic. The visual effects by ILM (Industrial Light and Magic), Legacy Effects is above average and better than most summer blockbusters nowadays. But somehow, despite the advance of technology, one misses the slightly more tactile feel of the CG and animatronic dinosaurs in the original Jurassic Park.

In the end, Jurassic World is a successful relaunch of a franchise brought back from extinction after numerous failed scripts following Jurassic Park 3 (2001). Colin Trevorrow deserves all the kudos and more for being brave enough to take on a most beloved cinema series, as the risks where numerous. He has hit all the right notes, with the minor lapses in the script that are quite forgiveable. One needs to pay at least one visit to the movie, preferably in 3D, which was nicely done. It will make you jump with joy, cower with terror and it will make you cry, for the dinosaurs. Jurassic World is the true successor to Jurassic Park!

Jurassic World (2015)
Directed by Colin Trevorrow
Produced by Steven Spielberg
Starring, Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Irrfan Khan, Ty Simpkins, Nick Robinson, B.D.Wong, Vincent D’Onofrio, Omar Sy, Jake Johnson, Judy Greer, Lauren Lapkus, Katie McGrath

4and ½ stars out of 5

P.S: In my second viewing, I found the Raptors to be more believable in terms of CGI texture.

[Riddhi2011]

Originally Posted by Diesel

This one is flipped around in that it is more of a monster film but also has a couple of good characters. It also has the cheese nature you expect from some of the characters.
I absolutely loved it (I went in expecting a 3.5/5) and cannot wait to watch it again.

Rating - 4.75/5

Well this is a monster movie where the monsters have character enough for us to hate them, love them and even shed tears and cheer for them. Such movies are rare.

[DanTheMan]

Inside Out

My Review:

Have you ever in your life felt emotions like joy, anger, sadness, fear, or disgust? Have you ever wanted a film that will put you in awe, make you laugh, AND have you shed a tear or two? Then my friends, Pixar's latest, Inside Out is the film for you.

Nearly 5 years to the exact day that I witnessed Toy Story 3 on opening day in theaters, where I laughed and cried for the first time in years experiencing a film, I sat down to watch an early screening of yet another highly anticipated Disney/Pixar production. Only this time, it was not a story about toys, or animals, or monsters, or humans. Instead, an animated film revolving around emotions, and how they play a significant role in our everyday lives, more than we can ever possibly imagine. A simple, yet risky story in today's age of animation, yet one that will leave a lasting mark on film as we know it forever.

Joy is the emotion who brings out the most optimism, and the glue that holds everything together for the human girl the group of emotions are controlling from inside. Sadness is the polar opposite of Joy, a melancholy character who, despite her best intentions, can't quite seem to brighten the day of the sweet young Riley. Fear and Disgust are self explanatory, as their respective personalities keep Riley in check and prevent her from going down wrong paths, but they are both beneficial to the group in their own way. And then there's Anger, who never has a dull moment in the film, with his witty humor and over the top......frustration. Together, they make a wonderful and delightful team who must help guide Riley as she progresses from infant to young lady.

Within the first 60 seconds of the opening shot, a tear was already forming in my eye. Call it Disney magic, call it a story hitting close to home for me personally, but I almost lost it with nearly 90 minutes still to go. If you think a particular scene in Up was emotional, then be prepared for the multiple moments that this film contains throughout.

Inside Out was touching, heartwarming, hilarious, intelligent, exhilarating, and I suppose one could say, emotional.

5/5

The animated short prior to the film, Lava, will also likely be a candidate for tear-jerker of the year as well. Very beautiful storytelling and visuals.

[SilentDawn]

My review of Inside Out:

WOW.

At one point, this film felt so truthful and achingly arresting that I wanted to reach out and become one with the screen. Being in a darkened theatre wasn't enough, I wanted to live within the realm of tenderness and majesty that Inside Out radiated. Pixar has just stolen my heart and opened a door to another world in a way that showcases the limitless possibilities of cinema.

Pete Docter's Inside Out is a masterpiece. Visually scrumptious, wonderfully conceptual, brilliantly crafted, and heartbreakingly emotional; Pixar's latest film is their finest outing and a masterclass in supremely detailed storytelling.

With a story beginning from the minds of Pete Docter and Ronaldo Del Carmen (who is also co-director), Inside Out consists of a journey that is both intimately grounded and structurally massive. Following the story of five emotions inside the mind of a 11-year-old girl named Riley, Inside Out is a breathtaking tale of memory and nostalgia, focusing on the five emotions and Riley in an interweaving structure that bursts with inventive magic and fascinating visuals.

In spite of each emotion sporting a particular feeling (Sadness, Fear, Disgust, Anger, Joy) throughout the film, each of them are beautifully multi-layered and tragically honest. Pixar lets every character flourish in natural and surprising ways, committing to the insanity of the entire project that allows for an incredible consistency in regards to character. Simply put, every individual in this is as memorable and indelible as can be.

The animation is magnificent. If I could go up and shake the hand of every Pixar animator, sketch artist, and designer, I would. The world of Inside Out is splendid and beyond colorful, moving through fantastical locations that gush with iconic images and sensational concepts. Every second of film brought another surprise, another joke, another revelation; It all comes together in a fluid and spellbinding fashion.

Every voice actor in this perfectly compliments the immaculate animation on screen. Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, and Mindy Kaling are all spectacular, each of them embodying their respective emotion with vibrant hilarity and subtle poignancy. Hell, even Diane Lane and Kyle MacLachlan are in this, bringing terrifically tender performances as Riley's (Kaitlyn Dias) parents. It's an all-star cast through and through, showcasing tremendous talent within each and every line.

The screenplay by Pete Docter, Josh Cooley, and Meg LeFauve is tremendous, highlighting and expanding on the strengths of the Pixar name when it comes to the writing. The humor is as sharp as ever, the big ideas within never overwhelm, the feels will hit you as hard as Pixar can manage, the story is paced perfectly, the back-and-forth is ingeniously detailed; the writing in Inside Out is utterly Oscar-Worthy. As someone who is interested in the ideas of psychology, I couldn't tell you how happy I was when I heard "REM sleep" mentioned.

Plus, can we all please reflect on the pure mastery of Michael Giacchino? His score for Inside Out is arguably his best yet, with only his tear-jerking work on Up coming close. It oozes warmth and compassion, even within such moments of chilly pain and humane devastation. The combination of his score and the images on screen gave me chills on multiple occasions, and tears were shed. I was borderline weeping at points. Bring lots of tissues folks.

And yet, even with all these impeccable qualities, nothing feels short-shifted or left unrefined. Inside Out will make you laugh, cry, and think. It will also make you ponder everything within your memories and the ember that glows within them. Pixar is back, and while I've said this before, this time it's the truth; Inside Out is the film of the year. And not even just that; I'm considering placing it in my top-ten of all f*cking time. Everyone, please see this film as soon as you possibly can.

5/5

[Astro Zombie]

You know, I've always wanted to review this film, but now that I'm sitting here after only my second viewing of 2001: A Space Odyssey, I can't really figure out what to say. I only saw it for the first time a little over a year ago, and I was immediately enamored with it. As a big sci-fi fan, 2001 seemed like a big oversight in my film-watching life, so I felt that needed to be rectified as soon as possible. It's really the ultimate sci-fi film, a monumental achievement in cinema and it's easy to see why it's so beloved (and polarizing).

A funny thing I noticed is that, both times I've sat down to watch the movie, I felt slightly intimidated by it. It's such an immense film within the realm of cinema, frequently regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films of all time, and one of such epic length and scope, that, just like that iconic monolith, it inspires both a sense of fear and awe. It's primarily a visual film, with very sparse dialogue, so it feels more like an experience than anything else. And it's a hell of an experience. There's nothing quite like 2001, it's such a hypnotic and beautiful film that you never want to look away. Of course, part of that is due to the absolutely breathtaking and lush cinematography, with some of the most gorgeously framed shots I've ever seen. And not just that, but the pioneering special effects totally suck you into Kubrick's world, and almost 50 years on, they hold up remarkably well. So well, in fact, you'd be hard-pressed to find better looking effects even today. The whole movie has a real timeless feel to it, not at all like a movie made in 1968. It was supremely ahead of its time.

Is it possible to even find issues with the film? Well, that depends. The pacing of the film is...deliberate. To put it bluntly, it's got molasses-like pacing at times. It's easy to see how that can be infuriating to some, hell, even I sometimes wish it'd move a little faster, but I'd never classify the movie as boring. It takes its time, letting its beauty wash over you. If that can be considered a "flaw", so be it. The film can also feel somewhat cold and clinical, but I'd chalk that up more to just being Kubrick's style. It might take some getting used to, but it's well worth it.

The movie was purposely left ambiguous, free to be interpreted however you see fit. I myself don't really have an interpretation for that famous final act, to me it's all a messy blur. But it's a beautiful messy blur, and that's what I love about it. Whether the film was ever supposed to make any sense or whether I'm just not getting it (or am too lazy to get it, which is probably the truth), the fact is that even taken at face value, it's still one of the finest films of all time.

5/5

Review

[jvince]

Is it better than Mad Max: Fury Road?
Agh... Inside Out is a great film, but I love Fury Road more. It's close though. Isn't it a great year for movies?

I don't know. The trailer looks childish and dumb.
It's not dumb at all. In fact, Inside Out is Pixar's most audacious effort yet. A lot of care and thought clearly went into making the movie. The orbs, core memories, islands of personality, abstract, dream productions, reality distortion filters, subconscious prison, train of thought, memory dump, long term... Brilliant stuff.

Is it funny?
Yes. Lots of great lines and comedic bits that kids and adults alike will enjoy. The two funniest parts come at the end ("GIRL! GIRL! GIRL!") and during the closing credits. I don't want to spoil it—it's hilarious—just remember not to leave the theaters right away.

Is it sad?
Oh-ho-ho, yes. If you cried on the start of Up and the end of Toy Story 3, you're going to need some Kleenex, because the ending will leave you all choked up and reduced to a sobbing mess. I 100% guarantee it.

Who's your favorite emotion?
Joy. Definitely Joy. She's awesome.

Who's your least favorite?
I don't know. I kind of like them all. Sadness can get a bit annoying, but she turns out to be a great character with some of the film's best moments involving her. If I had to choose, I guess I'd pick Disgust, just because she isn't given much to do.

That Bing Bong character seems shady. He's the bad guy, right?
There aren't any "bad guys" in this one. Bing Bong gives off a Lotso vibe at first, but he's really a nice guy. I could actually see him becoming a favorite of some moviegoers.

What's the short film before the movie? Is it good?
It's called Lava, and it's a cute story about a volcano looking for love. Stunning visuals, nice story, catchy song. That song will be stuck in your head long after you've seen the movie.

How's the 3D?
Go see it in 2D. Lava has much better 3D.

How was the audience's reaction?
They loved it. There was lots of laughing and sniffling, and everybody gave a nice applause at the end. Best response out of all the films I've seen so far this year. (Better than the Thursday midnight showing of box-office juggernaut Jurassic World and the three times I saw Fury Road).

What Pixar movie is it closer to?
It's like Toy Story, only instead of toys, it's emotions. Joy and Sadness are like Woody and Buzz and Riley is like Andy.

Joy and Sadness or Woody and Buzz?
Woody and Buzz, no contest.

Riley or Andy?
I have to go with Riley. She's just so adorable and relatable. Better character development too. As someone who moved around a lot as a child, her character hit home for me.

Toy Story or Inside Out?
Ooh, this one's tough. As much as I love the original Toy Story (the movie is a huge part of my childhood), I give the upper hand to Inside Out. I may be a bit biased though, since I love films that deal with memories (such as Marienbad, After Life, Eternal Sunshine, Inception, and Synecdoche).

How does Inside Out stack up to Pixar's other films?
I'd rank it in their top 3, behind Toy Story 3 and Up. Yup, it's that good.

So, does this mean Pixar is officially back?
Oh, they're back.

Oscars?
It's pretty much a lock to win Best Animated Film. Strong chances too to score a Best Picture nod.

What's the verdict?
Inside Out is Pixar's best film since Toy Story 3. Brilliant, imaginative, inventive, and magical, Inside Out pushes all the right buttons and evokes a wonderful spectrum of emotions. For everyone who was a kid and is a kid, this one's for you. Essential viewing.

The Scorecard:
Direction:
Acting: ½
Writing: ½
Editing: ½
Visuals:
Sound: ½
Entertainment:
Overall Rating:

Review

[Lepidopterous]

I'll just leave this here.

James Horner - Braveheart Theme Song - YouTube

[Astro Zombie]

Genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed this.

I had literally zero expectations walking into this. Putting aside the fact that the trailers spoiled a bunch of stuff, they just weren't very good and did not inspire much confidence. But I wanted to like it, I'm a big fan of the Terminator series and I was hoping maybe Genisys would surprise me. Fortunately, it did, because I found myself enjoying it quite a bit. It's arguably the 2nd best of the sequels, next to Terminator 2.

The obvious highlight of the movie is Schwarzenegger. The movie goes to great lengths to bring him back, but it was handled well enough and it was a blast to see him back in the role, old or not. Even better was his chemistry with Emilia Clarke; he essentially plays a father-figure to Sarah Connor and their chemistry definitely makes the film. I'm not in the "Jai Courtney is literally the worst thing ever" camp, but I've yet to really like him in anything and here...well, he's alright. He's no Michael Biehn, that's for sure.

The timeline gets more and more convoluted with this sequel (to be fair, it's been pretty f**ked since Terminator 3), there's a lack of any real memorable action scenes, save for maybe the third act bus chase, and, while I won't spoil the "twist" (marketing did a good job of that already), I will say that I thought it was an interesting way to raise the stakes and kinda-sorta makes sense within the film, but it's not a decision that's gonna make everyone happy. But it's got some legit great things, like the recreated scenes from The Terminator and J.K. Simmons. Maybe it was just my below-zero expectations, but I had a great time.

Plus, I find it really hard to dislike a smiling Terminator.

3.5/5

Review

[Riddhi2011]

Terminator Genisys may be a noble attempt at relaunching an iconic franchise, but it's not a success. Its great to see Arnie and the 1984 segments. But as they move on to 2017, things become flat. The various elements do not gel well, the plot does not feel convincing and the action feels mostly generic. The first half is special, the second half, not so much.

An element of fatherly bond is introduced between the major players, but they never solidify to anything significant. Also, the second half feels rushed. There's no real terror for the audience and the only character we feel any emotion about is the Guardian.

The special effects are standard fare. However the re-creation of 1984's Arnold is surprisingly good in the opening moments. I was also pleasantly surprised to find an animatronic model by Legacy effects.

The music by Lorne Balfe is meh, except in a few moments. It was quite amusing to find notes very reminiscent of Zimmer's score for The Dark Knight (Zimmer is a music producer for Terminator: Genisys).

Overall, it feels rushed, amateur and would have been a very forgettable movie if the first half wasn't as engaging. The biggest saving grace in this movie is Arnie, whom I felt gave his all for this character. And it is for him alone we should watch it on the big screen at least once. He does all he can with the sub-par material and should have been the focus of the film rather than Jai Courtney (miscast). By the way, there's not much chemistry between Courtney and Emilia Clarke. She feels more like his kid sister than lover-partner. Clarke is convincing, though, as Sarah Connor: a teen on whose shoulders is thrust the weight of the world. Jason Clarke does a fine job as John Connor and so does J.K Simmons as detective O'Brien who has a history with Kyle. Simmons is more like a breath of fresh air.

There is a post-credits sequence mid-way into the credits which felt needless to me.

Finally, I wasn't much looking forward to the movie as I was with Jurassic World. But I still hoped it would be good. It is a franchise I've grown up with but lost much interest after Salvation. Which is why this movie made me more sad to see it disappoint. I would not say it does not have the soul of the first two films but it has it in spades only. And the thrill and great ending of the the third film (I love Arnold's delivery of "Desire is irrelevant, I am a machine!" line) isn't here either. It is at best a nostalgic retreat that does nothing to re-invigorate a classic franchise. But I will always have a soft corner for it because the attempt was noble, if misguided.

It also strangely impacted me philosophically, in a way - made me feel that I was getting old and we're not gonna last forever.

If they make a sequel to this, they should hire better writers and a better director and make the story feel a bit more organic.

2.5 stars out of 5.

[Al_The_Strange]

Now that weeks have passed and all the hype has died, here's my review for

Jurassic World

finally.

"You didn't ask for reality, you asked for more teeth."- BD Wong
--------------------
Dinosaurs were resurrected with the miracle of genetic manipulation on Jurassic Park, but all attempts to control them ended in chaos and bloodshed. The pattern persisted through two more movies, and now it persists through another. This time, in the fourth film of the series, the park is finally open. Tourists flock to Isla Nublar to see living, breathing dinosaurs on exhibit. Something's bound to go wrong...

True to the formula of the series, the film starts off slow, establishing a few key characters (including kids for the narrative to anchor onto, again) before things start to go wrong. From the halfway point onwards, the film unleashes all kinds of hell when the dinosaurs inevitably break free and start wreaking havoc across the park. There are plenty of spectacular scenes in which dinosaurs stomp their way through entire crowds of hapless humans. It eventually builds up to a huge showdown between the classic dinosaurs we all know and love, and the menacing Indominous Rex.

Other things that make the film interesting will be its revamped setting - a fully working amusement park - and a few cool ideas, including the possibility of using Velociraptors in combat. You know what you're getting with the plot; it follows in the same pattern as the first film, complete with the recurring theme of chaos theory and humanity's inability to control nature. What makes the film lovable will be its characters, who aren't terribly deep, but are often colorful and charming most of the time. Some of them make some pretty dumb moves, but for this series, it's to be expected; the hero characters are what stand out and elicit a good amount of sympathy.

This film is made with good photography and editing. The cast is a pretty colorful bunch: I enjoyed watching Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, and the kid characters. Other players are not bad. Writing is pretty lightweight, but it gets the job done. This production uses good-looking sets, props, and costumes. Special effects offer plenty of incredible sequences, and are fun to watch. The music score brings back some of the classic themes, and is pretty good.

Of the Jurassic Park movies, I value Jurassic World for finally pushing the series into interesting new territory, rather than rehashing territory already explored in the other two sequels. It doesn't quite surpass the first film by any measure, but I find its characters and action more likable than the other sequels, and the film is worthwhile for any series fan.

4/5 (Experience: Good | Story: Pretty Good | Film: Pretty Good)

Recommendation: Sure, why not?