The Lego Movie 2 - Movie Review - More magnificent mayhem?

This film is a U, was released on February 8th 2019 and this review will contain NO SPOILERS 

Introduction 

Lego is THE ABSOLUTE BEST. If there's one thing you need to know about me, it's that I adore Lego, it is my favourite creation in the whole wide world, and it's the only thing I love more than films. I've grown up with the toy and still collect it in my teenage years. It is actually the thing responsible for me becoming a fan of things like the Marvel films. So half of what I've rambled on about since last July is all because of Lego. There is something almost magical about the endless possibilities of the little bricks. It can be anything in the world, your imagination is literally the limit. But, because it's good, does that mean that it could be possible to make a good film out of it? YES. 

5 years ago, a film called The Lego Movie was released. Many people had concerns that it'd just be a 90 minute long commercial and have no aspect of quality to it. But how wrong they were. The Lego Movie is without a doubt the best animated film of the 2010s, even surpassing films like Toy Story 3. It had some of the most innovative animation, really clever jokes, solid voice-acting, and a story with a lot of heart and lots of originality. Since its release, the Lego franchise has had some subsequent entries - The Lego Batman Movie which was also terrific and the best Batman movie since The Dark Knight, and The Lego Ninjago Movie which didn't add much but still wasn't bad. So, we now have a return to the original film, following on from its events. 

Thoughts Going In 

If I'm completely honest, I was 95% sure that I'd like this film. I hadn't watched the trailers but based off the previous films and craziness of the sets and marketing, nothing was throwing me off. If I did have one concern, it would probably be linked to the fact that Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the directors of the original, weren't in the directors' seat. While they are still screenwriters, the reigns have been given to Mike Mitchell, someone who is no stranger to animation, but no stranger to bad animation too, having been behind Shrek 4 and Trolls. So, minor concerns but nothing really worrying. 

The Story 

The Lego Movie 2 takes place 5 years after the original, the city of Bricksburg has devolved into a post-apocalyptic wasteland 'Apocalypseburg' after the Duplo invaders arrived, and everyone has adopted a new lifestyle of being miserable and brooding, all except for Emmet. The hero of the first is still as naive and optimistic as before. This is a problem for his best friend, Lucy, but is especially an issue when a new spaceship arrives and kidnaps all his friends from the first film, taking them to the Systar system. So, it's up to Emmet along with a new character, Rex, to save them. 

What I Liked 

The best thing about The Lego Movie 2 was the story. Many people will probably just see this as a standard "save the good guys from the bad guys" story. But when peel back a few layers, you notice that there is something a bit more complex going on in the background. The first film was all about the relationship between a father and son through Lego, but this is the same but about a brother and sister. This especially struck a chord with me because I have a younger sister and when we were younger, she'd always interfere with my playtime and have different ideas compared to what I was doing and we often didn't get along and occasionally had a bit of a fight. The portrayal of this story in this film was very well done and I found it very relatable and understandable, more so than that of the original.

If you're familiar with the Lego franchise you probably expect some fantastic animation and great humour and this film delivers both. This is definitely one of the most consistent franchises as each installment does something different story-wise, but they all have the same overall feel and tone. The animation is beautiful, it captures every aspect of Lego remarkably. As the franchise progressed, there began to be a slight decrease in the amount of on-screen elements being made from Lego. Natural elements such as water or clouds began to just be that. However, when the film is in the Lego world, 99% of what you see is made from Lego, with minor exceptions. There is such a mesmeric whiz and energy to the animation of these films and it is really fun to watch, even when everything goes a bit bonkers and is unbelievably fast-paced. Then there are also little details such as fingerprints or scratches on the pieces which make the film look so tactile and realistic. There is also an observable contrast between the dusty and battered Lego the brother uses and the colourful, friendly Lego that the sister uses. The jokes are also great, there is a perfect balance of stuff for the youngsters and stuff for the older kids / adults. Not every joke lands, but name me a film where every joke does. So, this film keeps up the franchise's consistency from an animation and humour standpoint.

There are plenty of new things this film introduces that keep it from feeling like it's retreading familiar ground. The new characters are lots of fun, the most notable is Rex Dangervest, who is a tough and more masculine version of Emmet as well as being a satirical riff on characters that you'd typically see Chris Pratt play in films such as Guardians of the Galaxy or Jurassic World. The contrast between the two made for quite a funny dynamic and it kept his side of the story entertaining. There is a new villain called Queen Watevra Wa'Nabi who is an entertaining character because she is made up of literal Lego bricks and shape-shifts between different things like animals or just shapes. As for the returning characters, many of them like Benny, Unikitty or Metalbeard are just there but others do a bit more. Batman in particular is still as fun as before and I don't think he'll ever get boring, a comedic take on Batman is way better than the dark and serious ones we see in the actual DC films these days. I should also mention that the film is also a musical to some extent, there are a few musical numbers. They're obviously not songs of real quality because they're pop songs in an animated film from the 2010s, but because they're so catchy it doesn't matter. There's even a song called 'Catchy Song' and it is not falsely titled, a whole sequence in the film revolves around some characters trying to avoid the song, and you can tell how hard it is for them. So, lots of new things too.  

What I Didn't Like 

The thing that bothered me is that there seems to be a lack of logic in this film. Remember in the first film when Emmet moved on his own? Well that was just a little moment that bugged me in the first as no real explanation was provided as to how that was possible. The sequel doesn't help. The events in the Lego world are presented as the imagination of the children, but there are many times when Lego characters move on their own in the real world and we're just supposed to accept this. This is slightly annoying because it prevents the film from being the most clever it can be. That and there is also a plot-line involving time-travel which makes little to no sense either. They do try to get away with it by having a line about how time travel makes no sense but that doesn't solve the issue. Fortunately, these segments are quite entertaining so you can look past it. However, I would've preferred them to have been handled in a way that fits the established rules of the world. 

Conclusion 

5 years ago it was awesome, 5 years later it's still awesome. The Lego Movie 2 didn't disappoint in the slightest. It has a relatable and heartfelt story, some fun new characters and songs, and more of the same fantastic animation and hilarious jokes. Only a few illogical moments hold this film back from being as good as the original. Speaking of which, in terms of the Lego movies, the first is still the best, but I think this edges out the Batman movie slightly, so it's the second best in the franchise. Here's another thing, I've gone on for ages about how I think Pixar is the best animation studio. But now, I think they're in danger of being overtaken. The Lego films have adopted everything that made Pixar great for their own success. Some really complex narratives, amazing animation, heart and emotion, and funny jokes. Nothing Pixar has made this decade is better than The Lego Movie, so depending on how good Toy Story 4 is, we'll see who is the new king of animated films going into the 2020s. I loved this film and hope there's still more to see in the future. 

I'm going to give The Lego Movie 2 a 9/10 

Mary Queen of Scots - Movie Review - Insightful or uninteresting?

This film is a 15, was released on January 18th 2019, and this review will contain NO SPOILERS... but this is a film based on actual happenings so there's not really anything to be spoiled. 

Introduction 

Despite being in the middle of my GCSEs which are quickly approaching, I am still going to the cinema frequently. I don't want to stop doing something that I love just because I'd like to succeed in school. But, there are times when a cinema trip can actually be beneficial for your education. One of the many joys of a history GCSE is the wide expanse of stuff you have to know and be familiar with. In my course, there is a whole component dedicated to a specific queen, Elizabeth I, whom we just started learning about after Christmas. So is it merely coincidence that a film which could cover certain details of this queen is coming out at this time?

Thoughts Going In 

I didn't go into Mary Queen of Scots because it's a potential awards contender or because I was interested by the subject matter. I went in because I thought it'd be good to see this film as I am learning about some of the details in it in school at the moment. That said, I do still look for a good film whenever I watch them, so I was keen to see if this would be a good film in general, which was kind of dependant on me anyway because it received quite mixed reviews. 

The Story 

The film follows Mary Stuart as she rises in power, ruling alongside her cousin Elizabeth and face many struggles because of her Catholic nature and other hardships. 

What I Liked 

The very best thing about this film, and I think most people will agree with me on this, are the performances. Saorise Ronan and Margot Robbie as Mary and Elizabeth, respectively, were so terrific. The first thing is that they naturally sink into their roles so well. Like Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury, you don't think you're watching actors portray these people, it feels as if you're watching the people themselves. I'd also like to comment on their accents because neither of them are British nor Scottish and they seamlessly pull off convincing voices despite having thick Irish and Australian accents in reality. The other thing is that even when a scene isn't interesting or if it's dull, these two are still so watchable that what they're saying or doing doesn't matter, it's about how they say or do things, which they do very finely. So, solid, convincing and compelling leads. 

The other great thing about this film were certain technical aspects. Firstly, the cinematography and direction. This film looks beautiful and successfully captures the Tudor / Stuart era it is set in wonderfully. There were times when it felt a bit like a high budget, BBC 1, Sunday night drama, but in this case the good outweighs the bad. The other thing was the costumes and make up was all very well done and helps to further emphasise the time period. So, it's not just the two leads that make this film watchable, it's also great to look at. 

What I Didn't Like 

This might sound like an odd or invalid criticism when talking about a film in which the main character is Mary Stuart, but I thought she was a bit dull compared to Elizabeth. There have been many other cinematic versions of Elizabeth's story, and it shows. What she went through was much more interesting than that of Mary. Don't get me wrong, Mary's life is still one stuffed with elements that could make for a brilliant film, but when you have Elizabeth and her more intriguing life story playing out simultaneously, I couldn't help but feel like I wanted to see more of the latter.

I don't quite think the film told its story in the best possible way. This may just be because I have quite a short attention span and struggle to stay engaged in a film unless there's an explosion every 10 minutes, but I felt as if the film didn't do a great job of introducing characters, explaining who they are / their backstory, and various other elements. As a result, it ended up with the two queens being easily distinguishable, but everyone else mostly being bearded men talking medieval talk and such. So, I had a bit of trouble following along.  

Also, not a huge issue for me but something others may get annoyed about, I don't think the film is entirely accurate to history. There's one scene in particular towards the end which I think others may have touched upon, but I won't bother to discuss as I don't really have anything to add to the discussion. But if you are a bit of a pedant and want everything to match what actually happened, this film may irritate you slightly. 

Conclusion 

While it does suffer from a more interesting story being sidelined, some weak storytelling, and definitely not being the best recent film with 'Mary' in the title, Mary Queen of Scots is still a very admirable effort at telling a story about a very comlex part of England and Scotland's history through some great filmmaking aspects like cinematography, direction and overall design. And its best success is two thoroughly engaging portrayals of these characters, both of which I think are worth seeing the film for alone. For any other GCSE history students studying Elizabeth, this is still worth a watch but don't go in expecting it to be super helpful, just think you'll come out with enough necessary insight into these significant people, which I did. 

I'm going to give Mary Queen of Scots a 6/10

How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World - Movie Review - A high note to end on?

This film is a PG, was released on February 1st 2019, and this review will contain some spoilers, but will be highlighted.

Introduction 

I love the How To Train Your Dragon films. It's one of the franchises that I have seen grow and develop throughout its lifetime since 2010. The first film is one of the best animated films of the decade and one of my favourite animated films in general, definitely the best film from Dreamworks. I wasn't as mad about the second film but I still really enjoyed it, it was a great sequel for sure. The best thing about this franchise is that it has always struck the perfect balance between story, spectacle and emotion. This is especially good as you don't see much of this in modern animation, especially in the mainstream. But, we now have our third and probably last chapter in this trilogy. 

Thoughts Going In 

I wasn't sure what to expect from this movie. I love the first film and really like the second one as I said, so what could this bring? The thing I was most concerned about was whether this would sign off the franchise in an unsatisfying way. But, I was keen that it'd still have the amazing visuals. So, I had mixed expectations. 

The Story 

Hiccup has almost fulfilled his dream of a peaceful union between humans and dragons. However, the people around him begin to suggest that the village is becoming too crowded for both species alongside each other. Hiccup then remembers tales of a 'Hidden World' where dragons live in peace, and thinks about setting out to find it. But, a new dragon hunter, this one specifically out to catch Night Furies, is desperate to catch Toothless. And while all this goes down, Toothless meets a female 'Light Fury' who he begins to become close with. So, what will happen as all the narratives intertwine?

What I Liked 

The thing I absolutely loved about this film was the ending. I'll dive into spoiler territory later but all you need to know is this. It was such a satisfying and emotionally resonant ending that it almost felt perfect. We're talking on the same level as Toy Story 3, and that's saying something. That's all I'll say now, spoiler talk will come later. 

This film represents the absolute peak of computer animation. The visuals in this film are even better than that of a Pixar film. The Hidden World is such a wondrous setting and the mix of colours and shapes makes it absolutely beautiful to look at. Even small details like the dragon scales, the textures of clothes and hair, and natural elements like grass, sand and water are all so realistic that it almost looked like live-action, or the CGI you'd expect from a live-action film. This is a real reward because when you look back on the original How To Train Your Dragon, the animation is great, but it does look a little bit weak nowadays. It's wonderful to see how this franchise has developed not just story and character-wise, but from an animation standpoint. 

The story was also really good. More specifically, the storytelling with Toothless. He's just a dragon, he can't talk like many other Dreamworks sidekicks, so how is it possible to tell a story about him and his new relationship with a female dragon? Well, it's possible and successful. The team have really understood how to tell a visual story, Toothless has such expressive eyes and such a distinctive character that it felt really nice to see his story get told unlike many other animals / creatures in films. This wasn't a huge aspect, but definitely a stand-out among the minor ones. 

What I Didn't Like 

My biggest issue with this film series is that the jokes have always seemed to be the weakest part. Here, not only is it unfunny, but it can be cringeworthy at certain points. Some of the supporting cast deliver really irritating lines and it really bothered me. There's a whole sub-plot regarding Hiccup and Astrid getting married but everyone makes fun of Hiccup for being a bit of a screw up and not good enough. It wasn't funny to begin with and there are many sequences dedicated to it which made it worse. There are also some jokes that sound funny on paper but aren't executed so well. One sequence you may be familiar with from the trailers is when Toothless does some kind of mating dance to attract the female dragon. Some parts of it were funny but I feel like the joke was a bit too elongated and it lost its charm fairly quickly. So, the humour isn't really a strong point for the franchise and it isn't improved upon here. This may not seem like a huge issue but I like to have a laugh when I watch an animated film.

My only other issue was that the titular Hidden World felt like it wasn't explored to its huge potential. Sure, it is the driving force of the film, but we didn't see much of it. There was only one big scene in which we see it and all the dragons inside it, but that's it. I feel like we could've and should've spent more time there, especially considering how stunning it was. That said, this sequence is one of the best parts of the film. 

Conclusion 

Well, I'm really happy. There is another animated trilogy in which there isn't a bad installment. I can't believe I'm saying that. How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World may not feature much of the titular setting nor does it fix upon the flaws of its predecessors in the comedic department, but it has some of the best computer animation of the decade, some amazing visual storytelling, as well as being an overall satisfying conclusion to a great series. I am so glad I was able to watch this franchise develop and grow as I grew up. It is the best animated trilogy next to Toy Story (until June that is) and is some of Dreamworks' best work in ages. So, all I can say is that I'm really, truly pleased. BUT, there is another certain animated sequel coming out this year that I'm hearing is as good as its predecessors, so this may not be hold the title of the best animated film of the year for long, we've only got a week or two to see.....

I'm going to give How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World an 8/10

Spoiler Talk 

I don't usually do spoiler talk but I felt like I had no choice this time as my main argument for this film being great centres around some spoiler-tastic things. So, what are they?

The ending in which Hiccup and Toothless had to part ways was really moving. Because I've been on board with this franchise since the beginning, I've been on every step of the way so I feel as connected to these two characters as they are to each other. It felt like the most appropriate ending for this franchise as Toothless has found himself a mate and Hiccup is of course getting married to Astrid. So, the two of them going back to their respective people as the leaders was very satisfying. 

But, the cherry on top was the final sequence. Hiccup as an adult with his children going back to find Toothless was another very heartfelt moment. When Toothless didn't recognise Hiccup for a brief moment, I felt very sad. But, once he realises its him and Hiccup places the hands of his children onto Toothless' nose, it was another touching moment as it mirrors the iconic scene in the original, and suggests Hiccup passing the torch to a new generation in which unity with dragons will hopefully be achieved. As if that wasn't enough, we're signed off with some terrific flying sequences that only amplify my love for this film and this franchise. So, the ending did exactly what I wanted in the best possible way.