Top 5 Movies I’ve Seen in the First Half of 2015 – RANKED!

As we head into the second half of the year I thought this would be a good time to rate the 5 movies I’ve seen at the theater so far this year.

Starting off with number five:

5) Cinderella

Fresh while still paying respect to the original Disney animated version, this film was a lovely adaptation of the classic story. This was the first movie I saw this year, but there was still more awesome movie magic to come.

4) Inside Out

This movie has all the great things we’ve come to expect with a Pixar film: endearing characters, incredible animation and feelings in a quite literal way. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I felt like there was something missing and as a result I didn’t connect as much as I have with past Pixar movies.

3) Avengers: Age of Ultron

This darker, bleaker chapter of Avengers was a fantastic summer blockbuster! It gave us more of what we love – beloved superheroes, non-stop action, state-of-the-art effects and super cool artificial intelligence. Bring on Civil War!

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Movie Review: Jurassic World

I have always loved and will always love dinosaurs. From a young age they ignited my imagination like no other. When I was a kid you could find me playing with toy dinosaurs, reading about them, or drawing pictures of them. And this was before I had even heard of Jurassic Park. When I did hear about this incredible movie about dinosaurs coming out I knew I had to go. Although being younger than the suggested 13 years old, my mom was cool enough to let me see the movie. This was the first PG13 movie I had ever seen and it left a lasting impression. The unforgettable combination of wonder and terror filled my little life and has stayed with me ever since.

Fast forward 22 years. I was thrilled from the moment I found out about a new Jurassic Park movie coming out. I had high expectations going into this movie (10 raptor claws out of 10 to be exact) and I was not disappointed! So naturally I was compelled to write about why Jurassic World was such an amazing movie to me.

First of all, the graphics. Don’t get me wrong, the effects in Jurassic Park were astounding, but technology has come so far in 22 years it made Jurassic World come alive that ways that the previous 3 movies could only dream of. The crystal clear imagery (especially in the 3d imax version I saw) is so realistic you can almost feel the dinosaurs breathe! And things like the holographic displays, the “hamster ball” vehicle and the park itself all made for some awesome eye candy.

Speaking of the park, I thought this movie cleverly and realistically portrayed our modern society. From the Starbucks and Brookstone stores in the park, to the Verizon sponsored dinosaur, this part of the movie rang true. (And I’m sure made for some excellent product placement deals!) It was also very funny to see the tourists deal with problems we know all too well, namely long lines and crowds, as well as some that are not as well-known, such as being chased by pterodactyls!

And then there’s Chris Pratt. He’s the perfect blend of rugged, funny, sexy and sensitive. He knows when to kick butt when needed, but also he recognizes that the dinosaurs are animals with feelings. I loved the Raptor Rangler aspect of this movie. In Jurassic Park the Raptors were immensely terrifying so it was cool to see that they are trainable. I would like to see Owen riding them in the next movie!

I really enjoyed the wide variety of actors in this film. It was especially nice to see BD Wong (of Law & Order SVU fame) reprise his role as a mad scientist. I also liked Vincent D’Onofrio, Jake Johnson, Irrfan Khan and Omar Sy. And the two boys, Ty Symkins and Nick Robinson, were great too. They were convincing as young people but not overly annoying. (But I do have to say Timmy and Lex from the original are hard to beat!) Also, the Jimmy Fallon cameo was hilarious!

Of course I could go on and on about all the things I loved about this movie. The music, the nods to Jurassic Park, the beautiful landscape etc, etc but overall I thought it was a fantastic summer block buster that left me with the same wonder and terror of the original. I give it 9.5 Raptor claws out of 10. I held back giving it a 10 out of respect for the original.

Do I think there’ll be another Jurassic Park movie? I would hope that humanity has learned its lesson by now, but I doubt it. I think dinosaurs are definitely in our future…

Movie Review: Cinderella

It seems like everybody loves an underdog. Perhaps that’s why the Cinderella story is so beloved. The classic fairy tale has been told countless times and has moved people for generations. With so many iterations of this story, it takes something special to make a Cinderella story that stands out.

But stand out, Disney’s live version of Cinderella certainly does. It’s a dazzling display of gorgeous cinematography, fabulous costumes and perfectly cast characters.

Movie Review: Big Hero 6

***Please note: this is NOT a spoiler-free review!***

Last Tuesday saw the release of the Oscar Winner for Best Animated Feature – Big Hero 6. I was thrilled that it won, as I whole heartily agree that it was the best animated film of the year, and maybe even the decade. There are so many things I loved about this movie – its brilliant graphics, the beautiful themes of loss, love and friendship and of course the incredible Baymax!

If you haven’t seen the film, here’s a detailed and spoilery synopsis. 🙂

Throwback Thursday Movie Review: The Iron Giant (1999)

This classic animated tale of boy meets giant robot from outer space is one of my all-time favorites. Director Brad Bird masterfully weaves together humor, suspense, tragedy, and most importantly a sense of heartfelt love.

The film revolves around Hogarth, a smart but lonely boy, and his friendship with giant metal robot who has crashed to earth. The military catches on to the existence of this extraterrestrial and Hogarth and his Beatnik friend Dean, must try to protect The Iron Giant and save him from destruction. Its setting in Maine, during the height of the Cold War, adds to the drama of the story by showing the extreme paranoia of the people and the government at the time.

It came out in 1999, a time when most animated films were starting to go a more computer animated route. But I think the classic animation style makes it even more endearing. Regardless of the style, it’s a visually stunning work of art that survives the test of time.

The voice talent in the movie is also amazing. Harry Connick Jr. makes you wish you were a Beatnik, Jennifer Anniston does a lovely job as Hogarth’s mom, and Eli Marienthal perfectly conveys the sense of wonder as nine-year-old Hogarth. And let’s not forget Vin Diesel. He manages to bring life, love and tenderness to a 50 foot tall metal robot. Not an easy feat by any means!

This movie’s themes of love, sacrifice, making good choices will make you laugh, cry, and everything in between. I think this is one of the most perfect movies ever made and I give it a rating of 9.5 out of 10. Don’t miss this modern classic!