Review: 'Frozen'

I find it kind of ironic that 3D, CGI animated films are even more cartoonish and goofy than the traditional hand drawn animated films. Especially when the computer animated ones are striving to look more real and alive. Well I'm sorry, but I don't see it.

For some reason, the look and feel of hand drawn animation always felt more elegant, graceful and, well, alive. 'Beauty and the Beast' (1991), for example: We are more than aware that what we are looking at is a cartoon, but when the animators give most of the characters the proper proportions and bodily features that we see in real life, the more engaging they become and gripping the story and emotions can be. But in a movie like 'Frozen', despite the characters clearly being more three-dimensional, they are surprisingly more exaggerated than ever before. Their bodies are too thin, the heads are too round and the eyes are too big. They also move way too quickly, and give little feeling of physicality and realism. Half of the illusion and enchantment that I remember, as a kid, from animated Disney films is lost because of it.

The computer animation may work for Pixar, and that's because Pixar created it. They brought their own different addition of animation to the table. And that's perfectly acceptable. But as far as traditional Disney animation goes, I don't feel like it works out too well.

The story and songs for 'Frozen' are pretty generic and predictable. Many plot elements from other animated Disney films are borrowed from and put in this movie, yet they only have half the effect. Some of the time, there is really nothing wrong with that, but occasionally it's very disappointing. And here, it is that. For me, at least. The audience I saw this with were enjoying themselves greatly. They were laughing at all the jokes, gasping at all the twists and turns and everything. And all I have to say is, 'Good for them'. I really mean that. This newer style of Disney animation clearly has an audience and they obviously relish in the magic.

The strongest story element in here is the relationship between the two sisters, Anna and Elsa. I like that the writers are trying to create stronger female role models for young girls. There's also at least one song in here that didn't feel too bland and forced, called Let It Go. That's just two of the small good things I got out of this movie.

I hope it's not because I'm getting older that I didn't enjoy this as much, because, on the contrary, I am just as much a kid at heart as I ever was in my childhood.

My rating: 2.5 / 4

Review: 'All Is Lost'

Unlike 'Cast Away', with Tom Hanks acting against an imaginary companion, and being surrounded by civilization in the first act of the movie, Robert Redford in 'All Is Lost' has nothing. There is no story, little to no dialog, and yet this may be one of the most engaging movies you see this year.

Our Man, as he's credited in the movie, is sailing out in the open ocean when a large crate slams into his boat, causing it to flood. And for the next hour and a half, it's a fight for survival.

Not having been nominated for an acting Oscar in decades, this could finally be Robert Redford's next nominated role. With nobody else to act against, he does the best that anyone can do to hold your attention. In many ways, we are him. Throughout this whole ordeal, you find yourself asking all sorts of questions, and figuring out what you would do if you were caught in that situation. Would you panic and give up, not knowing what to do? Or would you stay calm, relax and figure out how to get out of the situation? All those questions and ideas are played through him flawlessly.

This is a very good, bold film that demands respect. I've been trying to think of the last time I saw a movie that was driven by only one cast member, and literally nobody else. As far as I can think, no luck. There have been movies where there were long segments or acts with only one character, but almost never through a film's entirety. This movie is one of a kind.

My rating: 3.5 / 4

Review: 'Ender's Game'

I felt, while watching this movie, that there were a lot of missed opportunities that flew by which would have been great ones. Instead much of the focus was spent on the visual spectacle of the film. No doubt, the filmmakers spent their money well when it came to that conclusion: It looks and feels fantastic. 

Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, a young boy chosen for his unique abilities, is given the opportunity to attend Battle School, a school which prepares and trains children and young adults for another possible alien attack which happened half a century in the past. Hyrum Graff (Harrison Ford), believing Ender to be 'the one', puts everything the facility can offer on him, making sure he is truly the right choice. 

I'm aware that there is only so much you can do, compressing an entire novel into a two hour movie. My only complaint is that much of that time is spent during action sequences, and not enough in the development of Ender's character. That's at least what I felt. Also, the pacing of the film is, to be frank, way too fast. It feels like their trying to rush through everything in order to just get to the last ten minutes of the film (which really is the most intriguing part of the story).

With visually striking simulated battles, and mind-games testing your wit and will, you would think the director and screenwriter, Gavin Hood, would allow the audience to play along with these games, instead of just letting him take the controls most of the time. The book, written by Orson Scott Card, is rich with deep meanings of life, existence and questions of how/if you can trust anybody more than yourself. Along with insights into what's happening in Ender's psyche through the book. 

Admittedly, I had never read the book before until right before seeing the movie. Maybe that is the reason why the movie felt downplayed, for me at least. This is a very good story, and the story is clearly here in the movie. I just wish that there would have been better care taken with the structure of the screenplay, and not this obligation to make it rush by so quickly. As a stand alone story, it's very good. As a stand alone movie, it's decent. 

My rating: 2.5 / 4