Category Archives: Fantasy

Jungle Cruise

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Jungle Cruise      2 ½ stars

It’s back to the world of Disney once again, this time with Disney’s latest movie based on a Disney theme park ride. Jungle Cruise takes us on an adventure in the Brazilian jungle with Dwayne Johnson as a wisecracking scallywag named Frank who operates a river boat ride on the Amazon for rich tourists. Johnson is his usual charming self that we have grown so accustomed to in his roles. Like many Disney adventure movies there is a lot of background involving old legends and villains that this time brings a wealthy adventurous woman, Lily Houghton (a very self-assured Emily Blunt) and her brother, MacGregor (Jack Whitehall) from 1916 England to the Amazon in search of the petals of a legendary Tree of Life that is reputed to have mysterious healing powers. She of course hires Frank to take the pair deep into the jungle in search of famed flowers, but they are pursued by a reanimated 400 year old Spanish Conquistador? as well as an evil German Saxon Prince (Jesse Plemons) and his U-boat who are all interested in the same tree for their own reasons. This is all we need for two hours plus of action and conflicts between the various factions interspersed with Frank’s corny one-liners that will have you begging him to stop! There is danger to be had from vicious animals and fish and a primitive jungle tribe just like in the Disney ride. Then there is the ongoing joke of Frank referring to Lily as “Pants” since she insists on wearing trousers, something unheard of in 1916. The movie is reminiscent of Pirates of the Caribbean with an equal amount of action and supernatural beings that are always returning for more. By the time the movie was over I thought I had seen multiple endings as the villains seemed to have been dispatched several times. I am sure that the kids will love this one, but at times it got a bit tiresome. Expect the ending to leave you feeling that a sequel is in the works just like the Pirates of the Caribbean series.

The Legend of Bagger Vance

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The Legend of Bagger Vance       2 stars

Twenty years after its appearance in theaters I had the chance to see Will Smith and Matt Damon in The Legend of Bagger Vance, the movie that brings the fantasy world to golf. The fantasy character appears as Bagger Vance (Smith), some sort of deity who has come to earth to save local golf legend Rannulph Junuh (Damon) from destroying his life. Following his traumatic experience in World War I, Junuh has the opportunity to play in a golf tournament against two legends of the game, but has to regain his swing and confidence in himself. Bagger Vance has all the right words to get Junuh to understand the game and himself. Most of the movie centers on the game itself, spanning a 72 hole match over the course of two days. Like most sports movies there is plenty of drama in the event with missed opportunities and miraculous comebacks. Since it is golf and not horseracing, auto racing or baseball, the dramatic moments focus on balls landing on fairways and bunkers and the occasional long putt into the cup. I like a good sports movie, but I prefer homeruns and galloping horses to flying golf balls. For a good sports fantasy movie you can’t beat The Natural starring Robert Redford. If you haven’t seen that, I recommend seeing it over Bagger Vance. On a movie trivia note, Jack Lemmon has an uncredited appearance in the movie.

Flow

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Flow                      5 stars

The movie Flow by Latvian film director Gints Zilbalodis is the third animated feature I have seen recently and like the other two, this one hits it out of the park. (Previously, I saw The Wild Robot and Memoir of a Snail.) Flow is highly unusual as all the characters are animals struggling to survive in a setting where there are no humans. The unique thing is that all the voices are normal animal sounds you would expect from these creatures, unlike The Wild Robot. The filmmakers did not want to use simulated sounds and went to great lengths to record actual animal sounds for the characters. The result is quite impressive. The story follows a lone black cat in a very green forest who encounters various other animals and does his best to keep from getting killed by them. Early in the film the cat takes shelter in an abandoned house that could be from the early twentieth century. There are multiple carved figures of cats outside that were left by the previous occupant who must have been a skilled woodcarver. Later, the cat encounters a pack of dogs who end up pursuing him. After evading them, the dogs return in a hurry, ignoring the cat. Behind them is a herd of elk that nearly tramples the poor cat. Then we see the true danger: a giant wave of water that is sweeping everything away in its path including our friend, the cat. As the water continues to rise, he finds dry land but that’s not the end of his troubles. Finding a high spot to perch on, he is about to go under again when a wooden boat floats by just in time to save him. Once in the boat, he is joined by a golden retriever, a capybara and a lemur. Each of these other creatures became separated from others of their own kind before finding refuge on the boat. Each animal behaves in a manner consistent with their species, but they manage to tolerate one another. Then at one point they make contact with a flock of giant white birds that tower over them. The birds are unusual in that they seem highly confident and fear nothing. One of these birds is cast out from his flock and joins the cat and the others in the boat and is knowledgeable enough to steer it. Together, they form an alliance determined to survive this watery world they have inherited. No humans are ever seen, but there is plenty of evidence of their past existence from the ancient towering ruins in this watery world. There is no explanation of their demise or the cause of the great flood. It is left to our imagination. The animation is very fluid and colorful but has an unfinished look to it as though it is from an earlier time, perhaps twenty or so years ago. The film’s message is clearly about individuals putting aside their differences and working together to survive. It ends on a hopeful yet inconclusive note. The film is suitable for all ages and at one and a half hours is the right length. I actually rate it above The Wild Robot, but that is my personal opinion.

Wicked

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Wicked                 4 ½ stars

It has been over two decades since it first appeared on a stage and nearly ten years since the inception of turning it into a movie, and now Wicked has made it to theaters under the direction of Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights) bringing the Broadway musical numbers to the screen with some of the most lavish sets seen in a Broadway adaptation. The theater buffs know the story and the songs by heart by now, some having seen the stage show multiple times. I have not though, and won’t go into detail about the actual story, but will say that we see how the Wicked Witch of the West, known as Elphaba and Glinda first met at Shiz University and became friends and how Elphaba came to oppose a dictatorial Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) in the Emerald City. Earlier we learn that Elphaba was born with green skin so is shunned by those who know her even including her own father who blames her for her younger sister’s disability. The movie features the same characters of the play plus entire populations of Munchkins, students and teachers of Shiz university and the citizens of the Emerald City. The background consists of some very elaborate and colorful sets that can only be done in the world of film. The movie is titled Wicked, but at the beginning it is revealed that this is part 1. We will have to wait until next year for the remainder of the story. Of course, the movie shines most when Ariana Grande-Butera as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba are performing their widely recognized musical numbers such as the song Popular (sung by Grande). I understand that the songs were expanded some compared to the stage production and may be overdone. Grande is impressive with her wide range, but she is not quite the comedic talent compared to those who had the part on stage. The main attraction in my opinion is Cynthia Erivo with her commanding singing voice as well as her acting talent. She can convey the character’s emotions with simple frowns and glances. Erivo’s singing role in the movie is smaller than Grande’s but she really makes the most of it especially when she really belts out the song Defying Gravity, something I was really anticipating. I first became aware of the talent of this British singer born to Nigerian immigrants when I saw the 2018 movie Bad Times at the El Royale where she portrays a young singer struggling to become known. She was someone to pay attention to. The movie also has a theme very relevant to today when it shows the oppression of a group of characters by the ruling authority, that being the wizard. In this case it is the animals who are facing persecution, but they can represent any group that is different based on their appearance or country of origin. I already have Wicked, Part 2 reserved as one of my must see’s for 2025!

Soul

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Soul       4 ½ stars

Disney Pixar’s award winning animated film Soul is a bit of a departure from the studio’s usual productions. While intended mainly for young audiences there is a blend of metaphysical wisdom mixed in with the colorful magic that only the more mature watchers will appreciate. We meet Joe (Jamie Fox), a middle school band director who hasn’t reached his dream of being a jazz performer in New York despite years of trying. He gets his chance at a great gig when due to an accident he finds that he is transported to an otherworldly realm referred to as the Great Before. This is the place where souls receive their personalities before they travel to earth to be matched to a new body. Joe is mistaken for one of the mentors, old souls that have lived their lives and now pass on their wisdom to the young new souls. Joe meets one unfortunate new soul called Soul 22 (Tina Fey) who has rejected past mentors like Abraham Lincoln, Ghandi, Copernicus and Carl Jung for thousands of years and is an irritation to the Counselor Jerrys that run the Great Before. Then because of an unlikely accident the pair travel to earth together to be united with Joe’s body, though not in the planned way. It is then when the real magic happens with 22 encountering real life in the city and must learn to appreciate the many wonders of living while Joe struggles to find a way to make his appointment for his jazz performance. There are some moments of great tension and scary scenes, but they are done with enough care so are still appropriate for the young viewers. Still the message comes through that our hopes and dreams are what makes our lives worth living. Be sure to give Soul a try if you haven’t already.

Pinocchio

Pinocchio             3 ½ stars

Last year’s Pinocchio by Matteo Garrone updates the Disney animated movie to a live action version, where the bright fairy tale gets converted to a much more grimy version about a wooden boy puppet who desires to become a real boy. Having never seen the Disney cartoon I didn’t have anything to compare it to, but I understand that it is more true to the original novel than the 1940 Disney version. Pinocchio and company live in a fantastical world where fantasy and magic abound. We can understand why the puppet wants to run from Gepetto (Roberto Benigni) and find a better life. The problem is that Pinocchio is not all that smart and constantly finds ways to get into trouble, leaving others to rescue him including a fairy who looks out for him. The movie is long but is suitable for children and brings with it a message about the consequences of mischief and disobedience.

Encanto

Encanto                4 stars

The newest animated Disney movie, Encanto takes us to the mountains in Columbia where an extended family all live in a magical house in an isolated village. The main character is Mirabel, a young woman who sings around town and generally brightens everyone’s day. In this family every member is granted a special magic gift as they grow up. Mirabel’s sisters and cousins all found their gifts but when it was Mirabel’s turn she was told by the house that she had none, a burden that is hard to accept. She then takes on the mission to find out the family secret involving a hidden vision, a lost uncle and impending signs of doom in the small town. With plenty of whimsical songs, colorful scenes and amusing characters, the movie provides the expected Disney magic that is well suited to children. Some of the original songs were composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, but they may not be as memorable as his best works. The film brings an encouraging message that our families are not perfect, but we can be willing to accept them for who they are and celebrate what they bring to our lives.

Love and Monsters

Love and Monsters         4 ½ stars

It’s almost Christmas so what better time to see a movie about the end of the world? In the action comedy Love and Monsters we follow the exploits of Joel, a young twenty something man on a journey to be reunited with his high school sweetheart. The only thing is that most of the human population has been wiped out by giant mutant creatures that have infested the planet after multiple rockets were fired into space to destroy a comet that was on a collision course with earth. But the pollution from the rockets resulted in said mutant creatures. Does this sound completely implausible? Yes, but don’t worry about it. Joel leaves his underground colony of fellow citizens on an 85 mile journey across hostile terrain to find his love, Aimee, who he has not seen in seven years. Along the way he is accompanied by a dog named Boy who aids him as he battles some giant carnivorous creatures. So far this sounds like a very tame variation on A Boy and His Dog. (If you haven’t seen the movie from the seventies you should check it out.) This movie, though is very family friendly due to the personality of the star, Dylan O’Brien as Joel. Like any family oriented movie it has a positive message like learning to gain self confidence and to appreciate those we love. It deserves some special recognition for some impressive effects that bring the monsters to life. I didn’t know what to expect when I started the movie, but found it enjoyable. It seemed odd though that there was a near lack of firearms with the humans relying mostly on crossbows, spears and swords for defense. Along with an occasional hand grenade.

Turning Red

Turning Red                        4 stars

Pixar’s 2022 animated film Turning Red takes a different twist on the coming-of-age theme. This first full-length Pixar film to be directed by a woman (Domee Shi) tackles the subject of puberty and menstruation in a teen-age girl by using a metaphor in the form of a giant red panda. 13-year-old Chinese Canadian Mei lives with her immigrant Chinese family in 2008 Toronto and is a normal kid, though anxious and an overachiever in school. Her mother, Ming (Sandra Oh) is very controlling and likes to keep a watchful eye on her only daughter. Mei likes to hang out with her girlfriends and talk about their favorite boy band. Things seem perfectly normal, that is until she experiences a sudden change in her mood and finds herself very attracted to a certain boy in school. It is then that she discovers that feeling strong emotions makes her transform into a giant red panda with extraordinary strength. This is symbolic in movie terms of something powerful going on in her body, making her temporarily lose control of her emotions, a common occurrence in teenagers. Naturally, she tries to hide the transformation from her friends; that is, until she finds it can be a way to be more popular. Then the trick is to hide the change from Mom and her family. The girls secretly scheme to use Mei’s gift to raise money so they can attend a concert of their favorite boy band, 4 Town. (Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell wrote much of the original music that makes the boy band seem genuine.) But then there is more to the story when it is revealed that the giant red panda is really a sort of family curse that is visited upon all the female members of this family. Traditionally, they must perform a ritual that will keep the panda in check. The movie is a tactful yet amusing way of presenting the change that will relate to teenage girls while likely be over the heads of, yet be fun to much younger viewers. Turning Red adds to Pixar’s list of successful films dealing with certain human conditions that includes Coco, Soul and Inside Out. In a way, Inside Out 2 addresses the same subject as Turning Red but is a little more abstract. Unfortunately, for Pixar, they were forced to remove the movie from theaters and show it exclusively on streaming platforms because of pressure put on them from concerned parent groups who found the subject matter too controversial for their sensitive tastes. But at least young audiences have a way of seeing this colorful, action-filled film from Pixar. Domee Shi is an Academy Award winner having previously made the animated short film, Bao, about Asian parents becoming empty nesters.

Oxygen

Oxygen                 3 stars

Oxygen is a new sci-fi horror thriller from director Alexandre Aja that has one of the most limited sets I have ever seen. It opens with a young woman (Melanie Laurent of Operation Finale and Now You See Me) who awakens inside a futuristic cryogenic pod with only a computer voice named MILO for company. She is told that her oxygen supply is running out and to make matters worse she has no memory of where she is or even who she is. To say the movie is thin on plot is a colossal understatement. The woman slowly pieces together who she is through visual clues provided by MILO who is not always very helpful, and phone calls she is able to make to the authorities who it seems have something to hide. The hidden secrets eventually do get revealed but the events seemed to take forever to get there. It helps not to think about the situation too much or you will start to see some holes in the story. The movie is aided by a great performance by Laurent who puts plenty of energy into this very limited role. In fact the entire movie depends on how convincing she is. The movie could have been significantly shorter without losing any of the story. The director is known for other stylistic horror thrillers like Crawl, Horns and Piranha, so if you have seen any of these you have some idea of what to expect. The movie is in French with subtitles. If you ever saw the French horror film High Tension (also filled with plot holes) you will know what I mean. Oxygen is available on Netflix.