Soul (2020)

 

 

 

This movie is just brilliant. How is it possible Disney and Pixar touch a very deep subject and present it in a colorful childlike visual feast? 

 

Soul is a movie that teaches us to celebrate and value our everyday life, things that sometimes many of us take for granted.
Is life only about a pursuit of purpose or ambition? As a teacher who deals with university applications and essays all the time, I have to say that this movie strikes the right chord in me as I believe the pursuit of so-called goals/ achievements in life are not necessarily filling up the cavities in us.

 

 

Soul is about a guy named Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx), a middle school band teacher aspiring to be a jazz pianist, who falls into a hole and ends up in coma right after he nails a job and gets a gig of his life. He goes to in-between world and avoids going into the "Great Beyond" and chooses to go to the "Great Before" instead in a bid to return to Earth. He meets 22 (Tina Fey), who is nonchalant and refuses to be born again as she has no spark that motivates her to do anything in life despite the great mentoring from all the inspirational people/souls, Abraham Lincoln, Mother Teresa, Carl Jung to name a few. He realizes that 22 can help him get back to Earth, and the story revolves around their adventures that shed light to their sparks in life. 

 

 

The animation is stunning. It delivers the comic relief amidst the profound philosophical question of life. It's touching and beautiful. Big thumbs up for this film!

10 out of 10.
 

 

Monsters, Inc. (2001)

Rated: G (General Audiences)

I am so happy watching this today. It brings a great laugh!It's about a two year-old girl who turns the tables on a few monsters whose job is to scare children so that they can generate energy for the power company. It's such a cute and entertaining animation. It is hard to wrap your head around how Pixar can just come out with masterpieces one after another. Monsters in your closet? So common but first time it was so well executed. The story is original and fun, and it's sure to bring about laughs from the young and the old alike. The monsters all have their own personalities and are unique in their own way, creating lots of funny moments and a heartfelt plot. While Monsters, Inc. may not be the greatest Pixar movie, it's still a solid animated film, perfect for child audiences. Monsters, Inc. is simply lovable and touching! And the monsters, none of them is scary, lol, they are all huggable!

 90 % for Monsters, Inc.. A must watch!

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

Beauty is not skin deep. Sometimes this world is just so cruel to judge people from outward appearance. As the classical Disney movie "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" suggests, I am reminded that beauty is not something you can see. It's what you can't see. Beauty is the fabulous-looking cover that attracts you attention to a book. But it's the writing inside that holds your attention.

So, here the movie (adapted from novel of Victor Hugo) goes: The action starts with Frollo (the bad guy in the movie) chasing a family through the streets of Paris. Intent on a bit of ethnic cleansing, he wants to rid the city of Gypsies and is obsessed with finding the Court of Miracles, their secret hiding place. After dashing the mother's head against the steps of Notre Dame, Frollo grabs what he thinks is some stolen loot she's been carrying, discovers it's a malformed baby and moves to throw it down a well, eager to send the "unholy demon back to hell."

A watching priest saves the baby and absolves Frollo -- provided he agrees to be the boy's guardian. Named Quasimodo ("half formed"), the hunchback is locked in the cathedral, destined to become its bell ringer.

During the 1482 Festival of Fools in Paris, Quasimodo, the hunchback of Notre Dame, is elected the Pope of Fools for being the ugliest person in Paris finds himself falling instantly in love with the Gypsy dancer Esmeralda. Joy turns quickly to sorrow as the crowd cruelly mocks and rejects him for his misshapen appearance, failing to see the charm which lies below his odd looks.

Back in the safety of the Cathedral, Quasimodo is at first heartbroken to find that Esmeralda is in love with another, yet he ultimately risks everything to bring the two lovers together. Yeah, love is not only about possession, it's also about letting go...:) In the end, the entire city of Paris owes Quasimodo a great debt as he teaches the people the important lesson of acceptance and love. Paris learns to appreciate the unique values of the outcast Gypsies and the disfigured hunchback.

Well, well, well, this is two thumbs up movie. So, you'd better watch this. One of the best Disney's classical animation.

80% for The Hunchback of Notre Dame. 

UP (2009)

Rated : PG (Parental Guidance for some peril and action)
Up is probably the best film Pixar has ever made. It packs so much into feelings and emotion into this film that it blows my mind. Up is simply a masterpiece. The beautiful animation and setting of Paradise Falls was breathtaking. Ed Asner does an amazing job with the character of Carl Frederickson, a lonely man who ties balloons to his house and goes up. Just in the first ten minutes alone, the movie packs a punch. Their is a montage of Carl and his wife Ellie's life together from marriage to her death that is so touching and sad. As soon as that balloon takes off, the action and fun never stops. The character of Russel, an Asian boy scout, is hilarious and provides comic relief for the whole story. Every character in the film is someone you feel emotion for. Dug and Kevin, two animals, were great as well. The suspense and emotion in this film run high all the way through as every character has something to offer. I think adults may like this as much or even more as their kids its so good. This movie found its way to my heart in several scenes with Russell and Carl. Overall, Up is a movie you must see as it has beautiful animation, great characters, supense and emotion, and scenes that could bring anybody to tears.

I give 100 % fresh for this movie!

Coraline ( 2009)

Rated : PG (Parental Guidance) [See Full Rating] for thematic elements, scary images, some language and suggestive humor. 

Imagination is more important than knowledge. -- Albert Einstein.

The Quote means a lot to me. Not only because of what it says, but who said it. Mr. Einstein, as you all know is the greatest scientific mind of all times. His works mold everything that we know today about physiques and because of his discoveries humanity path will never be the same. What is to admire about this quote, is that a men of knowledge and fact, takes the time to stand back and realize that there are others things to admire in this world. That the human mind is more than just numbers and formulas. That sometimes, things don't have to make sense. The Truth is I envy people with great Imagination. Whether is a Marquez novel or painting by Picasso, a film by Del Toro. I often wonder what is it like to have a vision like that and yet further more express it. Director Henry Selick and writer Neil Gaiman brings us a movie with great imagination...But what is to expect from the same mind that brought us The Nightmare before Christmas? My review, of CORALINE.

Coraline Jones (Dakota Fanning) is not a happy camper. Her life is coming apart. She and her family move to a town in the middle of nowhere, to a mysterious place called the Pink Apartments. She misses her friends and can't see to get any attention from her parents. To make things worst, she is bored to death. One night she discovers a secret door that takes her to a parallel dimension, where her deepest dreams come true, her "other" parents give her all the attention that she wants and every minute in this world means all the fun that you can get. But be careful for what you wish for.

The first thing that I have to say about this movie is that the story is solid. It doesn't waist time by giving you a back story that other wise would just destroy the motion of the film. Every character falls at the right place and at the right time. You first meet Coraline Jones arriving to her new home, and it only takes moments for the viewer to attach them self to main character. Dakota voice acting is good and very convincing. As the story develops you are treated to visual candy. Every detail of the cinematography and art directing is outstanding. When we are in the real world that is exactly how it feels, but every time we make the jump to the "other" world things seems to get dark confusing and freaky. You just can't image what you are going to see next.

A lot of critics say that the movie might be a little bit to scary for a young crowd. But I have to put that theory to rest, because my 3 year old loves the movie and has seen it about 5 times in the last week. Furthermore there is a good lesson for young kids to learn at the end of the movie. The action sequences are not explosive by any means but they will keep you glue to the screen. The supporting voice talent complete there task with no complaints, just solid performance.

Coraline reminds us that you don't need top of the line CGI to make a good animated movie; And that to make a good story you don't have to go out of your way to try to be different, a good solid story well told will travel around the world. The things that you will see on screen during this flick, is what tops the delicious treat that is Coraline. The movie also runs less than 1 hour and 50 minutes, so watching it is not a task.
Just, a quick good time.

I highly recommend Coraline. Let's put that imagination to work.

80% fresh for Coraline!