Onward (SPOILERS)

Uh Oh, It's Magic...

The film industry has taken a heavy beating this year. While hopefully things will be able to bounce back for the most part, there's no doubt that the road to recovery is a long way ahead. Pixar's Onward is one of those films that has been affected by the Coronavirus, with a short-lived theater release before moving straight to Disney+. Judging from that statement, I bet you can guess how I was able to see this movie. Pixar is one of those studios that will offer some of the best family-friendly entertainment there is simply because the studio crafts stories that not only provide fun for the whole family, but also take risks and are rich with themes that resonate with everyone. That being said, not every feature can be Toy Story or Up, and they're have been some less than stellar entries that border on being downright forgettable. With how this one was positioned, it seemed we were gonna be faced with the latter. For me, I find it in the middle. It's not top-tier Pixar, but I still find it very enjoyable and a movie that has a very profound and moving story. Now let's see what makes Onward work and what doesn't:

UPS

1. Tom Holland and Chris Pratt. Frankly put, this paring is a dream come true. They hold a great dynamic that stands as the heart of the film. While I have issues with how the film tackles their relationship, Holland and Pratt's chemistry still shines bright and if they ever make a live-action movie where the two are cast as brothers, I would totally check it out.
2. The film moves at a pretty reasonable pace. While that comes at the cost of some solid worldbuilding and potential character drama, it does help to keep the film engaging and immerse you in the quest that the brothers share. It never felt stretched out or overstayed its welcome, and that I think is worth a plus in the UP department for me. 
3. The ending. Simply put, this is what sets Onward above other Pixar entries that don't reach the levels set by more iconic entries. The whole film revolves around the brothers bringing back their father and that of course is where the emotion comes in. What makes the ending stand out however is that it actually manages to subvert expectations in a way that feels satisfying and impactful. It may not have been what I expected, but in the end, it packed the punch and for that it felt like a fitting end. 

DOWNS

1. The film's pace, while good for the movie, does cause a bit of trimming that I feel keeps the film from being something truly special. As mentioned before, the world that this film presents is so intricate and fascinating that I would have totally supported taking some time to explore it. Likewise, and most irritating of all, it seemed like the film was setting up tension between the brothers only to drop it as soon as it was introduced. Frankly, I don't think having this happen would elevate the film per se, but if the producers were going to take time to set it up, then they should have at least tried to commit to it, even if for a small chunk of the runtime. 

OVERALL

Onward is not one of my favorite Pixar films, but it's also nowhere close to being forgettable. In fact, I think this is one of those films that's ripe for a sequel. Should that happen, I'd definitely check it out.

RATING: 7/10 - B

And that's it for this post, guys. Stay safe out there and tune in for more coming your way :)

The Best of The 2010s (SPOILERS)

Well here we are, the end of the decade. There have been several amazing films to come out of this decade, some of which you'll see on my list. Probably the hardest one I had to make, I really tried my best to pick the ones that I felt the best about. To make this fair, I picked two films from each year that I saw and felt had the best chance of deserving a place on the list. I'm sure they'll be disagreements, but hey, opinions are opinions. Reviews for movies I've covered will be linked, and be sure to check out my lists for the best movies from 2017, 2018, and 2019. Now let's begin:
 20. The Revenant
 19. Rise of The Planet of The Apes
 18. Alpha
 17. Deadpool
 16. The VVitch
 15. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
 14. The Wolf of Wall Street 
 13. The Irishman
 12. Prisoners
  11. Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2
 10. Django Unchained 
 9. The Dark Knight Rises
 8. Coco
 7. Logan
 6. Whiplash 
 5. Dawn of The Planet of The Apes
 4. Avengers: Infinity War
 3. How To Train Your Dragon
 2. Joker
 1. Toy Story 3

And that's a wrap on the 2010s. What a decade it has been! Here's to what the 2020s have in store. As always, tune in for more posts coming your way and till then...

The Best of 2019 (SPOILERS)

Well, we are about to each the end of the 2010s, and what a decade it's been. Before we take a look at the best that this decade has had to offer, let's take a look at some of the best the year of 2019 had to offer first. 2019 was an interesting one in that it started off pretty good before meandering in the middle then blowing me out of the water by the end. As such, this was a pretty hard list to make. Reviews for the movies I've covered will be linked here, and be sure to check out my lists for the best movies of 2017 and 2018 in the links below:

• The Best of 2017
• The Best of 2018

Now let's begin:
 10. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

 9. Once Upon A Time...in Hollywood

 8. Avengers: Endgame

 7. IT: Chapter Two

 6. Toy Story 4

 5. How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

 4. Doctor Sleep

 3. Marriage Story

 2. The Irishman

 1. Joker

And that's it for this list guys. Tune in for my Best of The 2010s coming up!

In The Mind Of: Sheriff Woody Pride (SPOILERS)

Reach for the Sky...

We all have that one toy that holds a special place in our heart, so much so that we even consider it a living person that we can call a friend. For me, it's my camel. For Andy Davis, it's a cowboy doll with a snake in his boot. For as long he can remember, Woody has always been Andy's best friend, and they would always do everything together. For that reason, there is nothing he wouldn't do for Andy, even if it's not always the best course of action. When a new toy by the name of Buzz Lightyear arrives and becomes Andy's new go-to plaything, Woody's jealously gets the better of him, which in turn alienates him from his friends and puts him and Buzz in danger. Here, though, is where both he and Buzz come to realizations about themselves that allow them to grow and become friends. Together, they escape certain doom and return to Andy as partners who will look out for each other and share Andy's love equally.

Over the course of the Toy Story series, Woody has been in several situations where he questions his purpose in life. On one hand, his sense of loyalty makes him feel obligated to making a child, be it Andy or Bonnie, happy. On the other, he also wants to live a life outside of obligation, one where he can truly live of his own accord. Ultimately, once he is reunited with his old flame, Bo Peep, Woody discovers the life he has always wanted, only that it comes at a cost. Because he chooses to follow his own path, he has to leave his old friends behind, including Buzz. 

Woody is the heart of the Toy Story series. It was he who kept everything and everyone together, and through him the other toys have been able to find their own sense of belonging in the world. Woody himself grows from the experiences he shares with others as they do from him. By the end, he now can truly live life of his own accord. To Infinity...

And Beyond...

Retro-Reviews: Toy Story 4 (SPOILERS)

Being there for a kid is the most noble thing a toy can do...

The Toy Story franchise holds a special place in the hearts of many. The original trilogy is easily one of the greatest there is, holding a lot of heart, emotion, and all around fun for the whole family to enjoy. It also had one of the most perfect endings to a story ever, so when it was announced that a fourth film would be released, there were obviously concerns. I myself thought that this being Toy Story would mean that it would at least be enjoyable if not something that would be treasured the way the first three are. Once I saw it, I, like many others, do feel it is the weakest of the four but nowhere near as bad as many of those more bitter about the announcement would believe it to be. Let's get into why Toy Story 4 was worth the release, and why, if necessary, it wasn't:

UPS

1. For starters, the animation. It's come a long way from the first movie to say the least. Just take that sequence in the rain! Absolutely gorgeous. 
2. The new characters were welcome additions. I wasn't sure how I felt about Forky at first, but as the movie progressed, he ended up being one of the best characters in the movie let alone the entire series. Likewise, Ducky and Bunny were a perfect comic relief duo who are the centerpiece of easily the funniest moment in the series. Then there's Duke Caboom, and can I say more about how great he is? YES I CANADA!!! Alas, I'll leave it there and continue on to the next three characters who shared the greatest spotlight. 
3. The arc of Gabby Gabby. When you compare her to the other villains, it almost seems cruel to call her one despite the fact that she does several morally questionable things in her quest to accomplish her goals. Still, it's easy to root for her once the extent of her pained and broken nature is out in the open. Once she is able to find herself a kid who will love and cherish her, you can't help but shed a tear at how happy it is to see things go right for her. 
4. The return of Bo Peep. One of the advantages this movie had was being able to tie up any loose ends that weren't wrapped up in the third movie; most glaring of all the whereabouts of Woody's old flame. While it was great seeing her return, it was even better to see them give her a complete revamp on her character. In the place of her previous characterization, Toy Story 4 shows off Bo's more adventurous and active lifestyle, allowing us to see a different side that adds new layers and not only makes her a better character but one that has a clear impact on Woody's arc. Speaking of which...
5. After leaving this movie, it's easy to see that this movie was made to offer a fitting conclusion to the story of Woody. It was really interesting to see that as Bonnie began to divert her attention to other things, Woody started to question his purpose in life, making it his mission to make Bonnie's life happy even when he himself is not. It makes it all the more emotional when he helps Forky see the meaning behind being there for a child (which gives him newfound purpose,) offer Gabby Gabby a chance to find her happy ending, and finally choose to stay with Bo and her friends to go on adventures of their own. While the ending itself may not hit as hard as the one in Toy Story 3, it still packs the punch when you see Woody say goodbye to his old friends which leads to the fact that this may very well be the last time we ever see the old gang together again. At least we have the assurance that even though Woody will no longer be with Buzz, Jesse, and the others, they will still hold a place in his heart. 

DOWNS

1. Though we managed to get the emotional goodbye scene at the end, the fact of the matter is that the other toys were sidelined for the most part. While it can be justified considering this movie focused more on the culmination of Woody's journey as well as introducing the other toys, it is still jarring to see characters like Jesse placed in the background and showcased for a single scene or so. Buzz had it better than the others for sure, but even he feels like a bit of an afterthought in the grand scheme of things. Still, what we got from Buzz was great and of course the ending made up for the lack of screentime the others were given. 

OVERALL

Toy Story 4 is the kind of movie that didn't need to happen but at the end of the day, almost no one is complaining that it did. For that, even though it may not be as revered as the first three, it will stand by them with pride. 

And that's it for this post, guys! Tune in for more on the way :)

To Infinity and Beyond...

Incredibles 2 (SPOILERS)

Where's my Super Suit?...

In a time when folks my age were around the age of the kids today, there was one movie that almost everyone would know, love, and quote, especially the tagline of this post. That movie is none other than The Incredibles, which was essentially Pixar's answer to DC's Watchmen if you will. It's a beloved classic by now, yet there hasn't been any talk of a sequel...until now. 14 years later, the Parr family and friends have finally returned to our screens for another round of being super. Of course, was it worth the wait? Simply put, I'd say yes. In my honest opinion, I find Incredibles 2 to be better than the first, despite a few problems here and there. Let's get down to why I came to this conclusion:

UPS

1. The action and animation were pretty top-notch. It had a different feel from the first, but one that I could say was much better in all regards. The animation was vibrant and gorgeous while the action was intense and fluid in every motion. Overall, a huge thumbs up to the crew for their outstanding work here.
2. The family dynamics were given more time to be showcased and developed. Whereas the first focused more on Mr. Incredible's arc and story, the whole family gets a chance to shine here and there isn't a single one sidelined or left out of focus. However, that's not to say that one of them doesn't manage to come out on top, because...
3. JACK-JACK STEALS THE SHOW! Seriously, if all else failed, Jack-Jack could easily carry this movie on his shoulders, hands down. From his interactions with the other characters, to the extent of his vast array of powers, every moment of screentime that he's given is enough to make one feel joy and laughter. He really is that great :)

DOWNS

1. Screenslaver is a really weak villain, or at least a major step-down from Syndrome. While I figured this to be a given since Syndrome is such an iconic villain to compete with, I still felt they could have done a little better with this character. From the lack of truly standout moments of villainy to the incredibly obvious reveal of who the character really was, it was just majorly disappointing how this character was handled, even when I wasn't expecting too much.

OVERALL

I really enjoyed Incredibles 2. Definitely one of my favorites of the year and a major step-up from the first, I'd say it was definitely worth the wait. Now let's not wait another 14 years for the third, shall we ;)

And that's it for this blog, guys. Tune in for more on the way :)