The Croods (2013) Movie Review

The Croods(2013) is directed by Kirk De Micco and Chris Sanders who also act as writers along with John Cleese.

The cast was Nicolas Cage as Grug, Emma Stone as Eep, Ryan Reynolds as Guy, Catherine Keener as Ugga, Cloris Leachman as Gran, Clark Duke as Thunk, Chris Sanders as Belt, and Randy Thorn as Sandy.

Seeing previews for this movie didn't really make me want to see it all that much, but it was at the local dollar theater so I saw it. The beginning of the movie is rather slow on the pick up. Truly the last 30 minutes or so is the best part of the movie; I completely loved it! (The last part).

Oddly, I was surprised from the voice actors. Truly, I thought that I wasn't going to love Ryan Reynolds as much as I did and I thought I was going to hate Nicolas Cage. Ryan Reynolds has an amazing voice and I just loved, loved, loved it! I have always found Nicolas Cage to be somewhat monotoned when acting, but his voice acting had so much more depth and range than his other acting.

My favorite character was actually the saber tooth tiger that you see in the picture above. There was just something about his proportions and looks that drew me to him. The other character's were okay, but I just never felt fully attached to them. Belt has a few good moments throughout the whole movie though.

The scenery for the movie was beautiful. It was well thought out which I really appreciated. There was actually a moment that I felt like I was looking at Oz because it was just so foreign and fantasy looking.

Overall, it is not my most favorite animated film but I did enjoy it more so than I thought that I would. I might buy it on DVD if it is marked down but I probably won't get it. It's a good one time seeing; I just won't watch it multiple times so I don't want the DVD. I'd give the movie like a 7 out of 10.

Man of Steel Movie Review

Man of Steel (2013) was directed by Zack Snyder and written by David S. Goyer and Christopher Nolan. The movie stars Henry Cavill as Kal-El (or Clark Kent), Amy Adams as Lois Lan, Michael Shannon as General Zod, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Russell Crowe as Jor-El, and Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent.

I wasn't as blown away by the movie as I wanted to be. The first 30-60 minutes felt really slow and boring. It was needed background information for anyone who didn't know the background story to Superman. It sticks fairly close to the story of Krypton imploding upon itself and Kal-El's parents sending him off  to save his life.

After the movie ended, I found myself loving Russell Crowe and the character Jor-El. (I, however, always love Russell Crowe's acting) He plays the role so beautiful that I actually felt bad for loving the character more than Superman, though Superman has never really been a super-hero that I am overly fond of.

The only actor that I wasn't quite feeling the acting from was Kevin Costner. It wasn't that he did a horrible acting job or anything. There was just something about the character Jonathan Kent that just felt weird. 

My favorite moment in the move was that they didn't overdue the clique jokes about the super hero. Superman's name is pretty much known to everyone so it was nice that they didn't shove the jokes in your face. The best example I have of it is a scene where there is a sign reporting the number of days since the last accident on a job site. The sign gets hit which knocks off two of the numbers and leaves it saying 0. I had thought that they would going to make the scene the backdrop when Superman stood up in front of it but they didn't. They were showing that they could tell a joke without having to shove it down my throat which I greatly appreciate.

My least favorite thing about the movie is the end fight scene. Early in the movie, there is this amazing sequence on planet Krypton that I was truly blown away with. Loved it! That scene made the end fight scene not seem to be put together. The early scene was well shot and seemed better planned out than the end fight scene. The final battle seemed to just keep creating the same move of the two just ramming at each other head on, which I wasn't overly impressed with.

All being said and done, I wouldn't pay for the IMAX or the 3D versions (especially not the 3d). There is really only one sequence worth the IMAX experience. The movie is rather stop and go feeling with its progression so I'm left having to give it a 6.5. It seemed better suited for those who weren't comic nerds than the comic nerds themselves (I'm fairly hopeful that the next movie will be much better though (fingers crossed for Kara Zor-El or better yet, Power Girl?)

(I will probably want it on DVD though....I'm a super hero addict though).

Source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0770828/

Night and Day Movie Review

Night and Day (2010) was directed by James Mangold and written by Patrick O'Neill. The Movie stars Tom Cruise as Roy Miller and Cameron Diaz as June Havens.

When I had originally heard about this movie before it even came to theaters, I thought it was completely ridiculous. This was a movie that I was sure I was never going to ever see in my entire lifetime, but I had been attempting to avoid homework the other day and it happened to be what my mother decided to watch in the other room.

After stopping to say something to her, I started to watch the beginning of the movie and couldn't get over Tom Cruise....I'm truly not a fan of him at all. Then I came out a few minutes later and I hate to say that I stayed and watched the whole movie!

The movie had a pleasantly funny storyline and I can actually say that I enjoyed both Cameron and Tom's characters. 

There is just this amazing chemistry between June and Roy as characters, plus there is just a hilarious story happening to the two. Roy is a secret agent that is attempting to protect a battery and the genius who created it, but June, a mechanic, ends up getting involved in the whole adventure. The writer made a perfect balance between the romance-comedy feel and the action scenes. It was a truly funny movie.

Now to the matter of Tom Cruise...it pretty much pains me to say that I found myself enjoying him and loving the character that he played. Roy has this amazing calmness and ability to be so put together and Tom captured that beautifully. Cameron's character June helped to keep the movie rather realistic feeling of reality because of the way she reacts in any situation feels genuine.

My favorite moment had to be when June attempts to punch Roy. Being an agent, he reflexives deflects the punch. What made the scene my favorite was the fact that the character apologies for doing so and tells her to punch him again because he did deserve it. I couldn't help but laugh in this moment! That was the moment when I felt that I couldn't completely hate on Tom Cruise anymore...or the movie.

Overall a movie that I was certain that I was going to hate, I ended up actually really liking! It's not too lovey-dovey which is nice. So you should check it out if you are looking for a new chick flick to watch that has a bit of action to it as well!

For a romance movie, I would have to give it a 9.

Source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013743/

Review of Kekkaishi (Manga)

Kekkaishi is written and illustrated by Tanabe Yellow. It was later translated into a television show with 52 (I have not actually watching the anime yet, but it looks like it just covers the first arch).

On to my thoughts about the series!

The series mostly follows Yoshimori as he tries to follow in his family's footsteps of protecting an ancient land from demons. There is a rival family which is where the girl, Tokine, comes in. Each has a demon dog that helps them hunt.

The relationship between Yoshimori and Madarao is a rather odd on, but I enjoyed the back and forth banter between the two. They are rather playful and make fun of each other often.

The relationship between Tokine and Hakubi is the opposite. They work well together and make a perfect team. There is also more of a serious air with the two.

Overall, I do enjoy the two main characters especially Yoshimori. He has this amazing nature of being goofy and funny, but then turning around and being super serious. There is just an amazing flexibility to the character and it was fun watching him develop his powers throughout the series. Best example is his odd passion...baking...

 My favorite character form the series does not get a lot of time in the storyline which makes me super sad! But that is probably due to my knack for picking that one character in every series that just doesn't get the time they deserve (in my opinion). That character would be Gen Shishio.

He comes fairly early in the series and is just so stubborn and mysterious. This is the first character that shows up that kind of rocks the boat in the series. His personality and traits aren't like most of the characters that you have seen up to this point. There is also a truly interesting and dark past story for this character that I just fell in love with.

 This character is then pretty much over-shadowed by two new characters (because one person wasn't enough to replace (actually two wasn't enough either >.< my personal grudge)). These two characters are rather nifty, but there really isn't much bad ground given on the two. Kagemiya (left) is an odd character that often gets made fun of due to his rather feminine qualities. I like how intellectual this character is though; he just has this unique quality to gather so much information from so little details. Shuu (right) is, however, my favorite of the two because of that cheery disposition (and probably the fact that he is later to be reveled to be much like a vampire).


A character that I was convinced I was going to hate because I just had a feeling was Yoshimori's older brother Masamori. He had this annoying older brother complex that just pissed me off because he thought he was all high and mighty. My feelings towards him did, however, change throughout the story. Through events in a secret society, the Urakai, it is really shown that there is so much more to the character and he always managed to leave me confused and guessing about what he was thinking. That isn't something that I find myself normally feeling towards a character. Plus he has a koi fish for a partner!
 
Ultimately, my other favorite character (and probably only comes in second because you don't get to see much of him) is Hakota. There is just this randomness to the character. He has amazing vision that allows him to survey locations from outrageous distances away and a gentle, humorous personality. Though, his role is mostly comedy relief. If he was in a scene, I would always get a little excited (the paper bad might have also been a factor in my love for him!). 

THE STORYLINE

The storyline to the manga is decent and had two main arches. I say this because there is a section towards the middle that just feels off. I don't know if it was just too slow paced or too random for me, but there was a moment towards the middle that left me a little put off. If you can, however, get over that middle hump, the storyline as a whole is well put together. The little details that you kind of have to accept in the beginning make sense by the end. I also enjoyed the random little moments that showed their everyday lives. The only thing that I would have loved to see more of was from the ending. I like to have all the loose ends bundle together nicely with a bow and there being no vague reference. Literally, I want exact details and no pussy footing around things. There is also a desire from me for coupling to happen in a series and there is almost never enough for me; this is true of this series as well. It was still a rather nice put together ending that just left an open feeling to a new beginning (which leaves me wondering if they will do a mini-series later of where the characters are now???). That would be an ideal thing for me, but overall I would give the storyline and series as a whole an 8.

ART

I enjoyed the art within the manga. The characters are very well drawn, and the other not so normal characters are actually inventive. Sometimes with a manga that is kind of creating a whole new world with special abilities, those special abilities can be draw in a rather confusing way. I never got that from the entire series. It is all done in a manner that is capable of being followed, and you can see that there is thought actually put into the drawings and the layouts.

Favorite Moment:
I think most of my favorite moments happened on the roof of the school during school time. There were just such random conversations and it revealed a lot of how Yoshimori thinks. It was the moment you got to see what a character was thinking.
That, or, when Tokine has a cockroach in her house and ends up having to go to Yoshimori for help because no one else was around to help. It is just comical!

Hated Moment:
I think I would have to pick the reveal of the antagonists for the second arch. It just seemed like you get a hindsight kind of look into them. That is something that I am not use to from a series and there was just a general vagueness to them overall. I was left scratching my head and confused by the whole thing. That may, however, been the best way to go about it (not really sure).

I also wasn't a major fan of the fact that it seemed once the first arch was over, a lot of those characters just dropped off the face of the earth. I always wonder what happen with those people. They stories really don't have anything to do with the other parts, but I like I said early, I am just not a fan of any loose ends (no matter how small.)

Side notes: I do not own the rights to any of this pictures; I am merely using them as a visual tool for readers.