Thursday, July 26, 2018

Incredibles 2 - Movie Review

Welcome to my first in depth movie review. This review will give you an idea about how they're structured, what I touch upon and how my ratings work. What better film to start off with than the long-awaited sequel Incredibles 2

This film is a PG, was released on July 13th 2018 and this review will contain NO SPOILERS 

Introduction

Pixar is by far my favourite animation film company working today. They are masters at creating creative worlds, original stories and engaging characters. In fact, I don't even think you could just say they're one of the best studios in animation, they're one of the best in film as a whole. However, out of their entire filmography, The Incredibles is not one I'd rank near the top, like many others do. I certainly enjoy it immensely and get a good kick out of it with each viewing, but it didn't quite give me the same satisfaction like that of Finding Nemo, Cars and Wall-E. I think the problem was that it was too grounded in reality and not surreal enough like the previously mentioned.

However, among all their pictures, it is probably the only of them which deserved a sequel. In the last decade or so, Pixar has been creating sequels many years after the originals. Yet only now, after follow-ups to Toy Story, Cars, Monsters Inc, Finding Nemo and Cars again, they realized that an Incredibles 2 was a good idea, even though all the signs were there from the beginning.

Thoughts Going In

After waiting a month after the American release, positivity surrounded the film. I got the idea that this would be a great sequel. I also thought that I'd like this one more than the original as I haven't seen it in years and my perception would most likely be a lot different after I've become so attached to superhero films, particularly from Marvel. In summary, my current self would probably have a different view on these films than my younger self. So, I was excited and had high expectations.

The Story

Well, the most noteworthy thing is the fact that the film literally picks up about 30 seconds after the ending of the original. We have an entertaining opening sequence with the family fighting the Underminer. The plot then takes shape as superheroes, or 'supers', are officially illegal and must remain underground. But, a man named Winston approaches Mr Incredible, Elastigirl and Frozone as he wants to bring the supers back. He sends Elastigirl out first to try and show what good they can do, whilst Mr Incredible is left at home to look after the children, which is proven to be a struggle as Jack-Jack is revealed to have some new, bizarre powers. 

What I Liked

I think what sets this apart from other Pixar sequels like Monsters University and Finding Dory is that it has a justified reason to exist. As much as I like those two films, there is a sense of not being necessary throughout. The only reasons that justify a sequel's existence to me are if:
  1. The wider narrative hasn't been completed and / or the first ended on a cliffhanger
  2. Certain elements that weren't fully utilized before are explored in greater detail (this includes world building or new character arcs)
  3. I enjoyed the first to the extent that I wanted to see more of it, which is a personal reason. 
It doesn't necessarily irritate me when studios make a sequel if previous installments were box office hits or simply became culturally relevant among fans, as long as it entertains me enough, I'll be satisfied. But I do prefer some reasoning behind it, because in some cases, it does weigh down a film and even damage my opinion. Luckily, that isn't the case here.
 
This film matches points 2 and 3. The narrative is satisfying because the characters grow, develop and we understand more about them than we did at the end of the first. We know that Mr Incredible is not perfect many times when taking care of the kids and there's more of Elastigirl which allows for more fun action scenes and a better understanding of her capabilities. Plus, most of what is on offer is much like the original, so we do see more of what we liked, I use 'we' because everyone on earth wanted this movie to be made, even you. Don't try to deny it.

I also think that the film is much more entertaining than the original. The big deal-breaker for me with any film is whether or not I had a good time watching it. Incredibles 2 definitely offers plenty of laughs, most of which revolve around the hilarious antics of Jack-Jack, who was arguably pointless the first time around. But this time, we see all his ridiculous powers like laser-vision, fire, walking through walls and whatnot. It all adds up to a thoroughly enjoyable character and variety of running jokes, which received some very big laughs from the audience I was with.

Obviously, the animation is spectacular because it is Pixar. But with this film in particular, it visually stood out with its aesthetic and stylized characters and action. In addition, there were many times where certain shots just looked as if they were real. Everything had a strange tactility to it. The textures on the suits and clothing looked refined, Frozone's ice and snow was vastly detailed and realistic, and some visual flairs like lightning zaps, lasers and portals, all of which are summoned by various other characters, have their own level of wonder. I'd go into detail but you can just look at any shot from this film and you'll know why I think this. Pixar is yet to reveal a flaw from an animation standpoint, in my opinion.

What I Didn't Like

There is very little to criticize here. I have a few small issues which honestly don't hurt the film itself, but do feel slightly annoying. One is the fact that the animation has clearly advanced a lot since 2004 and it is quite noticeable. The characters clearly look like they did in the original but with certain facial features such as wrinkles around their eyes or more refined skin tones that make them look a tiny bit different. This would be less of a problem if some passage of time had occurred between the two films, but because this begins exactly where the first ended, it is a little bit distracting. Also, some characters like Rick and Tony plainly look very different. But, that really didn't hurt my experience at all, it's just a small issue that stood out.

Another is hardly a problem regarding the film itself, but it's about the timing of the film in terms of the release. As I said earlier, I am very fond of Marvel films such as Avengers or Deadpool which Incredibles 2 is unfortunately inferior to for me. I feel like because the stakes in the genre have raised significantly since 2004, this film wouldn't stand out as well as the first did. Its only superhero competitor was Spider-Man 2, whereas this is released in the same year as Black Panther, Deadpool 2, Ant-Man and the Wasp and the billion dollar behemoth Avengers: Infinity War. So, what I'm saying is that it just isn't that mind-blowing as we've seen the most the genre can offer. However, I am happy that I saw those Marvel films, because they changed my view on superhero movies and probably made me enjoy this to the extent that I did.

Summary

Incredibles 2 is really terrific. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It finally brought the follow-up we'd all been wanting, developed the characters, upped the humour and dazzled with its visuals. If I had to say whether it is better than the first, I'd have to rewatch it because I haven't seen it in years and my opinion would probably change with my new superhero-loving mindset. But based off of what I remember, it's on par for sure. It doesn't rank among my top Pixar movies, but it is definitely another solid flick they can add to their canon. 

I'm going to give Incredibles 2 an S

As I haven't yet covered it, my rating system goes as follows:

EE (Enjoyably Engaging) is when a film has nothing to dislike and is essentially perfect

E (Engaging) is with very minor issues but is very good and entertaining overall

S (Solid) is just a solid movie, not perfect by any means, but solid

D (Decent) is with a fair amount of flaws but more than enough to like

O (Okay) is middle of the road, but slightly more positive than negative

A (Average) is middle of the road, but slightly more negative than positive

M (Mediocre) is with a fair amount of good points but a lot more to dislike

B (Bad) is just a bad movie, not terrible by any means, but bad

R (Rubbish) is with very minor redeeming factors but is very bad and boring overall

RR (Really Rubbish) is when a film has nothing to like and is essentially irredeemable

Sunday, July 15, 2018

Top 5 Films of 2018 So Far

Well we've reached that time of the year. The time when we're (sort of) halfway through the year and we can take a quick look back at the best we've seen so far at the pictures. I don't see an awful lot which is why my list is my top 5 as opposed to the more common top 10, because if it were, there would be a few films which, despite me liking, would make this list less of a genuine top 10 and instead just a plain rundown of all the films I've seen so far, with the best not getting the recognition they deserve. Also, many of the films I choose to see aren't exactly the most critically-acclaimed. So it will make perfect sense if you disagree and/or don't see the supposedly best reviewed films. I'm more into the entertainment side of film as opposed to the artful side. Anyway, without further ado, let's take a look at my Top 5 movies of 2018 as of July... 

Small Lego recreation of some of this year's highlights

5. Coco
While technically released in 2017, it came to the UK in January 2018, so it counts as a 2018 movie. Pixar have been up and down lately. Once their Golden Age (1995 - 2010) finished, they had a period of time where their films just weren't at the same standard (2011 - 2013). However, since 2015 they have leapt back on track and not disappointed me at all, and Coco is no exception. Of course, it has all the emotional depth and dazzling visuals we've come to expect from the studio, but it also takes a somewhat predicatable story and makes it very poignant and heartwarming, appealing to all ages. The film is also funny, engaging and enjoyable. Once again, it goes to show that as soon as you see that little lamp jump on the 'I', you're in for a great film. I cannot wait to see what they have with Incredibles 2.

4. Black Panther
Marvel certainly are doing a great job at the moment. Even though the superhero genre is slowly becoming over-saturated, the studio proves that they can add something new to the table, and Black Panther does exactly that. It makes a standalone and refreshing genre movie with very powerful performances from everyone, a clever and nuanced story unlike some of its peers topped off with more exhilarating action scenes and occasional funny moments. Judging by this and one other movie on this list, the Marvel Cinematic Universe doesn't show any signs of slowing in the near future.

3. Deadpool 2
It is always great to have a film that just makes you laugh. I enjoyed Deadpool (2016), but not nearly to the extent of its follow-up. By the end of this film, my friends and I were crying with laughter. It offers laugh-out-loud jokes, particularly in the end credits scene which you must stay around at the end for, entertaining and gory action and more of Ryan Reynolds in a role that only he could play. Josh Brolin was also terrific in his second menacing Marvel villain of 2018. Plus, my viewing of the film added to my ranking because it was the first 15 I saw in the cinema as it coincidentally came out on my 15th birthday weekend. So, me and two of my best friends saw it on the biggest screen in the whole country, the spectacular BFI IMAX in Central London, which was overall a magical experience. So whenever I think of this film, it reminds me of a great day and time. 

Ticket for Deadpool 2

2. Avengers: Infinity War
I doubt anyone has heard of this film, but it was a real treat. I was so excited for Avengers: Infinity War. I remember the week running up to it, so keen to see it. Then reviews flew in, overwhelmingly positive, people at school beginning to throw spoilers around (which I managed to avoid), but best of all, walking into the packed screening room on opening night with one of my best friends / fellow Marvel fans, ready to be blown away. Not only was the movie funny, exciting, explosive and joyous like we'd expected, it also shocked the two of us and the plethora of Marvel fans when it ended, I won't say why of course. It genuinely moved me and gave me one of the best experiences at the cinema in my entire life. I cannot wait for what comes next and I bet it can only get better, BUT WHY DOES THE UK HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL AUGUST TO SEE ANT-MAN AND THE WASP??!? WE NEED ANSWERS NOW!

1- Ticket for Avengers: Infinity War
2- Recreation of trailer shot in Lego

1. Ready Player One 
In all honesty, I'm just as surprised as you are to see this film top the list. If you told me this time last year that my favourite film of 2018 in July would be this, I would've replied with: "Oh, I guess Infinity War's gonna be rubbish..." But the teaser for this film seemed intriguing so I picked up a copy of the acclaimed book and began to read it. Over the 2 months it took me to complete, I remember the trailers gradually being released, and me thinking about how it looked so similar to how I imagined. However, they also raised a lot of concern. After finishing the book, certain things like character / story additions had me wondering as to whether this film would have anything to do with the book and rely solely on the name and pop culture references to sell tickets. However, I needn't worry. While certain things are shuffled around / changed, this great adaptation maintains the engaging plot of its source. But, it also adds some of the year's most wondrous visuals and popcorn-perfect action scenes, even more so than Marvel. It was also awesome to see some well loved properties collide in one film, despite it annoying some other people. But above all, it was such a joy to see how this enchanting tale had been interpreted on the big screen. It brought a huge smile to my face. I even saw it twice in the cinema and enjoyed it just as much on second viewing. I bet it's going to live inside my TV on constant repeat once the DVD is released. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!

1- Ticket for Ready Player One
2- Recreation of characters in Lego


Well, there you go. Those are currently the 5 best films of the 2018 as of July. But, there are a couple of honourable mentions which I feel I should give a shout out to before signing off:

  • Early Man - The definitive Aardman film - and it made me tolerate football!
  • Maze Runner: The Death Cure - A roller-coaster final chapter of a great trilogy
  • Solo: A Star Wars Story - Decent round of thrills with neat performances
  • Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom - Chris Pratt and Dinosaurs, need I say more?
  • Isle of Dogs - Not only funny, but visually mesmerizing and beautifully animated

Also, if we're now halfway through the year, what is there left to come?

  • Incredibles 2 - All I need to say is FINALLY
  • Ant-Man and the Wasp - Of course I can't miss this, I need answers from IW
  • Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - Enjoyed the first, might check it out
  • Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck it Ralph 2 - Loved the first, this one looks cool
  • Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse - Loving the style, looks quite intriguing

What are your favourite films of the year so far? What are you most looking forward to? Let me know down below!
  

Friday, July 13, 2018

Introduction to My Blog

Hello there, it appears you've stumbled upon my blog. This is all about movies that a 15 year old sees and wants to share his thoughts on. 

I am a huge film enthusiast. I love to go and get whisked away by the creative stories, wondrous visuals and clever characters on display. In my opinion, film is doing better than it ever has before in this day and age.

Some of my favourite films include The Lego Movie (2014), Cars (2006), Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015), Paddington (2014), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Wall-E (2008), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Back to the Future (1985) and Jurassic Park (1993) 

From that, you can get a rough idea of what kinds of films you'll see me reviewing here. I am a huge fan of animation, particularly the Lego movies, Pixar and Aardman, and in terms of live action, I love the Marvel films in the MCU, Star Wars, as well as various other action comedies or adventures. I cannot pinpoint any directors I am largely fond of, but in case it wasn't obvious, I am a huge fan of Steven Spielberg.

Whenever I see a new film in the cinema, I'll write a review a few days after seeing it. I will eventually go into detail about how my reviews are structured and how I rank movies and so on. Keep in mind that all this is just my personal opinion so any disagreements you have are absolutely fine, I'd love to hear what you think too if you'd like to tell me. 

All that said, I hope you're enticed and enjoy reading through my opinions and maybe take a recommendation or two. If you also have any questions regarding my thoughts on certain films / related topics then feel free to ask down below! 

All my content should be suitable for anyone, film certificates range between:
UK - U, PG, 12A / 12, 15 
US - G, PG, PG-13, R
Any specific content will be outlined at the start of a review.