Frozen review

FROZEN:

LET IT GO AND ENJOY THIS DAZZLING AND BRILLIANT DISNEY FILM!

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: **** out of 4

DISNEY

(From left to right) Kristoff, Olaf the Snowman, Elsa the Snow Queen, Anna, and Prince Hans in Disney’s Frozen

            Walt Disney Animation, the team behind Tangled and Wreck-It Ralph strike again with another CG animated fairy tale adventure, Frozen, loosely based on the Hans Christian Anderson story, The Snow Queen. Like most of their animated features, Frozen is jam packed with songs and musical numbers, beautiful animation, and of course magic, which shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone, that’s what Disney is best at.

            The story begins with two young sisters named Anna (voiced by Kristen Bell) and Elsa (voiced by Idina Menzel), princesses of the kingdom, Arendelle. Anna is an ordinary kind-hearted girl, while her sister, Elsa has an extraordinary gift; she has a magical ice powers and can freeze things.

            Unfortunately things get out of hand when Elsa is being crowned queen after the death of their parents, and she accidentally sends the kingdom into an eternal winter and flees into the woods. So it’s up to Anna to search for her and bring her back to the kingdom.

            Along the way, Anna meets a young ice seller named Kristoff (voiced by Jonathan Groff) and his reindeer, Sven, along with a talking snowman named Olaf (voiced by Josh Gad), who accompany Anna on her journey to bring summer back to the kingdom.

            Overall, Frozen is one of Disney’s best, I personally like Wreck-It Ralph more, but this is still a fantastic traditional Disney film. Most of the songs and musical numbers are upbeat and extremely catchy, especially Idina Menzel’s Let It Go, it’s a wonderful musical number and has stunning visuals to go along with it.

            Besides great animation and catchy musical numbers, the characters are very likable. Anna’s a very gentle and friendly character with a charmingly adorkable personality that I was instantly attached to while Elsa is probably the most interesting character in the movie as she's a princess-turned-queen with ice powers and an incredible singing voice, but her powers are tied to her emotions and can be difficult to control (Also, 10 huge points for not making her the villain). 

            Kristoff is essentially the love interest-ish character but I like how they don't make him a super attractive hunk, he does things men normally do yet Anna likes him for who he is while Sven reminds me of other Disney animal characters like Max from Tangled in terms of his facial expressions and physical slapstick and those can get some laughs, Olaf is the main comic relief and sure, not every joke with him lands, but a lot of his comedy had me laughing and it's refreshing that a lot of his jokes are surprisingly quiet especially for such a hyperactive character like him. 

            I’m not sure how this movie holds up compared to most of Disney’s traditionally drawn animated films like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, or The Lion King, but I think it’s one of their best 3D animated movies, alongside Wreck-It Ralph, Tangled, and Bolt. Frozen is great family entertainment and a perfect movie to see during the holiday season, it’s charming, funny, and of course, cool as ice.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire review

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE:

NOT JUST A FINE SEQUEL TO ITS 2012 PREDECESSOR, BUT A GREAT FILM ADAPTION OF THE BEST-SELLING NOVEL!

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: *** 1/2 out of 4

LIONSGATE

Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are back in the arena in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

            Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook) and Josh Hutcherson (Epic, Zathura, The Kids Are All Right) are back in the arena as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark in the latest chapter of the Hunger Games saga, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, based on Suzanne Collins’ best selling novel. Just like its 2012 predecessor, The Hunger Games, the film is edgy, dark, and full of intense action and shocking twists that will keep audiences at the edge of their seats, so not only is this a fine sequel but as an adaption of the original book, it’s done rather well, it stays focused on the original story and offers a pretty accurate film version.

            Shortly after the events of The Hunger Games, we find the tributes of District 12, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) on a Hunger Games Victor’s Tour to all the districts of Panem. Along the way Katniss senses a rebellion is being formed, but the Capitol is still in control as President Snow prepares for the 75^th Annual Hunger Games, a competition that could change Panem forever.

            Once again Katniss and Peeta get roped into participating in the games, but this time the games have changed, big time and they might need something more than good archery skills and wits to get home, but with the help of their supportive team, Effie (Elizabeth Banks-Catch Me If You Can, Spider-Man trilogy, The 40 Year Old Virgin), Cinna (Lenny Kravitz-Zoolander, Precious: Based on the Novel Push By Sapphire), and Haymitch (Woody Harrelson-Zombieland, A Prairie Home Companion, 2012), the brave tributes of District 12 might be able to see the light of day once more.

            Overall The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is a great sequel to the previous Hunger Games movie. It’s darker, edgier, and a little more intense than the last film, also there seems to be more going on in this flick than the first.

            Most of the elements from the book are present here in the film, and yes, I have read the book, so fans of Collins’ novel will most likely enjoy the movie adaption. Plus fans of the first movie, who are curious to see the saga continue might enjoy it too, the action is great, the performances are decent, the screenplay is accurate to the original novel, and the set and costume designs are fantastic.

            The film is also great filler for the next Hunger Games film, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2, which will be back-to-back sequels for 2014 and 2015, trust me it’ll get you excited once the film ends.

            It’s truly something worth seeing on the big screen…IMAX if possible.

Thor: The Dark World review

THOR: THE DARK WORLD:

NOT EXACTLY A MIGHTY FOLLOW-UP, BUT IT HAS ITS MOMENTS! 

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: *** out of 4

MARVEL STUDIOS

Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins and the rest of the Asgardians back in action in Thor: The Dark World

            Everyone’s favorite God of Thunder from Marvel is back in action in the highly anticipated sequel to the 2011 superhero movie, Thor. And honestly this new chapter of the Thor legacy, Thor: The Dark World isn't quite as solid as the first film but it's still another fun Marvel film. 

            Flashy action, impressive visuals, and the plot expands on the world established in the first movie. One of my issues with the first movie was the limited amount of screen time for Thor’s world, Asgard, well, this movie is focused much more on Asgard and for that I applaud it.

            The cast from the first film reprises their roles once more like Chris Hemsworth (The Avengers, The Cabin in the Woods) as the mighty God of Thunder, Thor, Natalie Portman (Mars Attacks!, Star Wars, Black Swan) as astrophysicist, Jane Foster, Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Hitchcock) as Thor’s father, Odin, and Tom Hiddleston (War Horse, The Avengers) as Thor’s adopted brother, Loki. Much like the predecessor, the cast does a wonderful job reprising their characters.

            Eons ago, Odin’s father, Bor battled the Dark Elf, Malekith, ruler of the realm, Svartalfheim who plotted to destroy the universe with a powerful weapon known as the Aether. Now many years later, Malekith and his legion of Dark Elves have vowed revenge on the Nine Realms and escaped in suspended animation during their battle with Bor and the Gods of Asgard.

            Odin’s son, Thor, the God of Thunder must re-unite with his love interest, Jane Foster and astrophysicist, Dr. Erik Selvig (Stellen Skarsgard-The Avengers), have a truce with his vengeful brother, Loki, and journey to the realm of Svartalfheim to defeat Malekith’s army of Dark Elves before they use the Aether to destroy the universe.

            This is what I was expecting in a follow-up to the first Thor movie, an epic adventure in Thor’s world with creative Gods and monsters and exciting action. Thor: The Dark World delivered exactly what I wanted, with plenty of surprises thrown in and the witty dialogue we’ve all come to expect from Marvel movies.

            Thor: The Dark World is a solid Marvel flick to follow Iron Man 3 this year, despite this movie being released in November instead of the summer like the previous films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But to be honest it’ll seem a lot quicker for The Avengers: Age of Ultron to hit theaters in 2015, so the hype will only be lasting a couple more years, because we had to wait five years for The Avengers to come out in 2012, but now we just have to wait two years for The Avengers 2.

            Oh well, to help fill the time, we have a Thunderous Thor sequel.

Ender's Game review

ENDER’S GAME:

NOT SURE HOW IT HOLDS UP TO THE BEST-SELLING BOOK, BUT AS A SCI-FI ACTION FLICK, IT’S WORTH A VIEWING!

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: *** out of 4

SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT

Harrison Ford and Asa Butterfield defending the Earth in Ender’s Game

            I haven’t read the original novel, Ender’s Game, but I can safely say that as a sci-fi flick, the Ender’s Game movie is very entertaining and filled with action from beginning to end. The action is in your face, with ships blowing up, laser blasting, over the top fight scenes, and so on, besides thrilling action, the cast’s portrayals are done very well, especially Asa Butterfield (Hugo) as Ender, Harrison Ford (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Patriot Games/Clear and Present Danger) as the General, Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit), Ben Kingsley (Iron Man 3), Viola Davis (The Help), and Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine, Zombieland) as Ender’s sister.

            In the near future, Earth was attacked by an unknown alien species and nearly wiped out all of humanity, if it wasn’t thanks to the heroics of International Fleet Commander, Mazer Rackham (Ben Kingsley). In preparation for the next alien attack, Colonel Hyrum Graff (Harrison Ford) and the rest of the International Military started training young children to battle the hostile race.

            One of these kids is the shy but strategically brilliant young boy named Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield) who has the skills and commands to save the universe from annihilation.

            Overall Ender’s Game is a pretty entertaining sci-fi flick, the action is in your face and will keep your eyes glued to the screen, the premise is clever, the acting’s decent, and the directing by Gavin Hood (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) isn’t half bad. I’m not sure how accurate the film is to the book, because I haven’t read it, but after watching this movie, it makes me want to pick up the book and give it a read.

            I guess my only issue with the movie is that there wasn’t much of a backstory on the alien race. The film would have been a little more interesting if we knew more about the aliens and what caused the war between the humans and the alien race, but there’s some detail about the aliens at the end of the second act.

            While I wouldn’t say Ender’s Game is as memorable or fantastic as other sci-fi space films like the Alien franchise, Close Encounters, Avatar, or Gravity, but there should be enough thrills and analyzed detail that will please fans of the genre. I’m a big fan of sci-fi and rarely miss a blockbuster in the category, and Ender’s Game is one of those sci-fi blockbusters that I enjoyed a lot this year, not a great movie but very entertaining.