2013: The Year in Cinematic Review

'Tis the season to look back and review the year.  I've managed to see quite a few films in theaters: 19 to be precise, 21 if you count that I saw both Monsters University and Frozen twice in theaters.  Since I didn't start this blog until after the summer blockbuster season, I thought it might be fun to give mini reviews of all the previous movies I've seen in 2013.  So here goes:

• The Impossible
• This is one of those incredible films I don't ever feel the need to see again.  It's about a family's struggle to survive and reunite after being caught in the 2004 tsunami that devastated Thailand and many other places.  It was an excellent film.  It was also very emotional and heart wrenching.
• Les Miserables
• Wolverine and Catwoman can sing!  No really, Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway are outstanding in the roles of Jean Valjean and Fantine.  And while I know that not everyone agrees, I even liked Russell Crowe as Javert.  I thought this was a terrific adaptation.  But I'm glad that whenever I watch it at home I can completely skip the "Master of the House" segment.  If I could somehow delete it from the disc, I would.
• Oz: The Great and Powerful
• Sadly, this film was neither great nor powerful.  But it was kinda fun and it had its good moments.  I enjoyed it overall and the various nods it gave to The Wizard of Oz while at the same time creating its own world.
• Iron Man 3
• While it may not quite recapture the brilliance of the first movie, our third solo outing with Tony Stark is a lot better and a lot more fun than the second one.  I thought the film did a good job unfolding its plot and villains.  It kept me guessing.  And while not perfect, it had nice helpings of both humor and heart ... and a whole lot of action.
• Epic
• Epic has some beautiful animation, but it falls far, far short of its title.  It's a nice, albeit kind of bland, little movie.
• Star Trek Into Darkness
• I loved this movie!  Benedict Cumberbatch is brilliant.  He manages to be terrifying and yet still somehow sympathetic.  The action is non-stop and the visuals are astounding.  Like its predecessor, the film is also very humorous.  Sure the film has a few gaping plot holes.  But I'm willing to overlook them because the movie is just plain fun.
• Man of Steel
• I'm not much of a Superman fan.  I prefer Batman.  But making Superman a bit more like Batman may not have been the best route.  I liked the movie overall.  But it got a bit heavy.  Perhaps this is DC's way of distancing themselves from the Marvel Universe and its witty humor.  The visuals were great.  And the origin story was well told.  It was neat to see so much of Krypton.  And I liked Henry Cavill and Amy Adams in their roles.  The gaping plot holes were a bit much though.  I'm cautiously excited for the next installment. 
• Monsters University
• No, it isn't as good as Monsters Inc.  But Monsters University is still very fun and very funny. And it managed to have a good amount of heart as well as a theme and resolution you don't see a lot in films.
• The Lone Ranger
• The only good thing about The Lone Ranger is the climax, which incorporates the classic William Tell Overture theme and some incredible set pieces and stunts.  The rest of the film is a schizophrenic mess that sloppily tries to balance humor and some very dark story elements.
• Despicable Me 2
• Yes, the minions and Agnes are cute and funny.  Gru and his secret agent partner/love interest Lucy were at times clever and witty.  Other than that ... meh.
• Planes
• Planes is basically just a rehash of Cars, minus all the heart, wit, and character development that actually made Cars likable.

Well, all the other movies I've seen this year have full blog entries.  Or at least they will.  I only just saw The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.  So out with 2013 and in with 2014.

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Saving Mr. Banks

Credible Credits

Year: 2013

Director: John Lee Hancock

Starring: Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Colin Farrell, Annie Rose Buckley, and Paul Giamatti

Tagline: Where her book ended, their story began.
Synopsis: Walt Disney pulls out all the stops to get author P. L. Travers to sign over the rights to make Mary Poppins come to life on film.

Review

It is not an enviable task to create a film when everyone already knows how it is going to end.  The trick is to create a memorable journey that keeps the audience engaged along the way.  Saving Mr. Banks does just that.

The film pits Walt Disney's charm against P. L. Travers' cantankerousness.  From the get go, we learn that Travers doesn't want her books to be Hollywoodized.  She doesn't want it to be a musical, there is to be no animation, and Dick Van Dyke has to go.  Clearly Walt "wins" in the end.  But there is much more to the film than just artistic headbutting.  Saving Mr. Banks interweaves two stories, both centered around Travers (who is brilliantly portrayed by Emma Thompson).  Story one is about Travers' youth in Australia and her loving yet flawed father.  Story two is about the pre-production rigmarole Disney, Travers, and the other creative minds went through.  The two narratives weave in and out beautifully.  Story one gives depth and meaning to story two as the audience comes to understand not only why Mary Poppins and the Banks family mean so much to Travers, but why Travers is the way she is.

The acting in Saving Mr. Banks is terrific and helps to keep the clearly sentimental film from crossing over into the realm of sugary schmaltz.  Paul Giamatti has a fun role as Travers' amiable chauffeur while she is in L.A.  Tom Hanks does a good job as Walt Disney, full of charm and charisma.  Although the whole time I just felt like I was watching Tom Hanks with a mustache.  The film belongs to Emma Thompson though.  She is critical, harsh, stubborn, and cantankerous, with a sardonic wit that flows throughout the film.  Yet she still manages to be vulnerable and ultimately endearing, albeit in a prickly sort of way.  Also excellent was Colin Farrell as Travers' father.  He is entrancing one minute, tormented the next, and believable throughout.

As you might expect from a Disney movie about the making of a Disney movie, Saving Mr. Banks is full of humor, heart, and music.  The score is dotted with snippets of music from Mary Poppins as the Sherman Brothers (the composers) present things to Travers for her judgement.  The songs are there for more than just enjoyment, however.  The film deftly uses them to tell its own story.  "Feed the Birds," one of Walt Disney's favorite songs, is played when Disney is feeling particularly discouraged.  And without giving anything away, let me just say that "Fidelity Fiduciary Bank" and "Let's Go Fly a Kite" are masterfully woven into the story line.

At the heart of the film is a theme of fatherhood.  Throughout the story are fathers, some more flawed than others, endeavoring to do right by their children.  Walt Disney is trying to keep the promise he made to his daughters.  P. L. Travers' father is doing his best while battling his own personal demons.  And as the stories unfold, the audience comes to understand why Mr. Banks needs to be saved.  He must be saved for his own sake, but also for the sake of the children ... all the children.

The film is not without its flaws.  The story has more than a spoonful of sugar to it and is perhaps more Disneyfied than realistic.  If it doesn't quite fulfill all one's expectations, it is not for lack of effort.  Still, I felt it didn't quite reach the level of magic it was trying to sell.  But it came close.  And though the outcome was assured, it was a fun journey to take.

Quotable Quotes

• "No, no, no, no, no! 'Responstible' is not a word!"  "We made it up."  "Well, un-make it up." -- P. L. Travers and Richard Sherman
• "To be proper British, it should be 'Let Us Go and Fly a Kite' ... [tries singing it that way]  Maybe I'll let that one pass." -- P. L. Travers (approx.)
• "Don't you want to finish the story?" -- Walt Disney

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Merry Christmas

There's no movie review here, just a Christmas message:

Christmas is a season of hope.  We hope it snows; we hope the roads stay dry.  We hope the lines at the mall aren’t too long, that we can find a parking space, that what we want is on sale.  We hope the carolers and choirs sing in tune.  We hope the dinner turns out all right.  We hope we like the gifts we receive and that the gifts we give are appreciated.  We hope people (and ourselves) will be a little kinder, a little more generous, a little merrier.  We hope Charlie Brown’s friends enjoy his scraggly tree and that the misfit toys find homes.  We hope Scrooge will mend his ways and the Grinch’s heart will grow.  We hope for many things.  But at this Christmas season, may we remember that the truest hope is in Christ, “which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God” (Ether 12:4).

Merry Christmas!

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Frozen (Reprise)

So I saw Frozen again today and I felt like I ought to give my second thoughts on it.  First off, I still really enjoy the movie and indeed enjoyed it even more this time.  The music and visuals are still fantastic.

In my previous analysis, however, I felt the pacing was off.  I didn't feel that as much this time around.  Granted, this time I knew what was going to happen.  So that may have some bearing on it and I'm not necessarily discrediting my first reaction to the film.  But the scene I particularly made mention of in the previous spoiler section didn't feel nearly as rushed as I had remembered.  I'm not entirely sure what made the difference.  And I'm still not sure the scene was as polished as it could have been.  Something still felt a little lacking.  But it was a good scene, and better than I initially gave it credit for.

Even though I like it even more now, I still think Frozen has a few (generally forgivable) flaws.  But if any of you felt I was too harsh on it, I wanted to offer this second look.  Movies may not change, but sometimes they deserve second chances, if only because we change.

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Frozen

Credible Credits

Year: 2013

Director: Chris Buck & Jennifer Lee

Starring: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, and Josh Gad

Tagline: N/A
Synopsis: When Queen Elsa traps the kingdom of Arendelle in an eternal winter, Princess Anna must find a way to save not only her home and people, but also her sister.

Review

Ah, Disney.  It's good to see you returning to the style that you do so well: the musical fairy tale adaptation.  Frozen is Disney at its best.  It's breathtakingly beautiful, delightfully humorous, and earnestly heartfelt.

The animation is superb.  I wish real-life snow and ice were always as beautiful as they are in the film.  There's a gorgeous richness to all the scenery that makes Arendelle feel both parts real and magical.  And it is almost mesmerizing to watch as Elsa, the Snow Queen, unleashes her power.  In one particularly stunning scene she starts to fully understand just what she is capable of and creates an entire palace made of ice.  But the ice and snow aren't simply beautiful.  The film utilizes them in such a way that they help reveal Elsa's character.  Each time her powers are used, the ice reflects her mood, whether it be excited, scared, or frustrated.

Speaking of character, it is the characters that really make the film wonderful.  Anna is almost unflappably optimistic, and the film plays off that in different ways.  Elsa, as I mentioned, is very much like the snow and ice she can create.  Sometimes she can seem simply cold.  But there is an intricate beauty to her.  And the way the two sisters interact is what really ties the story together.  Kristoff and Hans round out the main characters nicely.  Which brings me to Olaf, the snowman.  When I saw the teaser trailer with him losing his carrot nose and him and Sven the reindeer battling it out to retrieve it, I was a bit leery.  He was cute in the short, but he seemed like he would get very annoying over the course of an entire film.  I was totally wrong.  Josh Gad, who voices Olaf, is perfect.  Despite being a snowman, his voice has an endearing warmth to it.  It doesn't hurt that Olaf gets some wonderfully witty lines and a terrific song of his own.

And speaking of music, the soundtrack and score for Frozen are catchy and beautiful.  Olaf's song is very clever.  And Kristoff gets a fun little song that tells a lot about his character.  That's what's so great about the best Disney musicals.  The music isn't just thrown in to add a number.  It furthers the story or the character development or both.  My favorite song in the film is Elsa's as she's harnessing her powers and building her ice palace.  The visuals and the music work in harmony (pun intended) to create a dramatic scene that might otherwise fall flat.

I really did love Frozen and I look forward to seeing it again and owning it.  That said, the film is not without its flaws.  The chief problem, I felt, was pacing.  The film just felt rushed at times.  Instead of being able to savor moments, we were hurried on to the next sequence.  I wanted a little more time to enjoy the breathtaking scenery or to understand the characters and what made them tick.  And I don't feel like we got that.  And while Frozen is a very, very good film and ranks among some of Disney's best, I think that pacing problem keeps it from being truly great.  It's terrific.  But it's not quite the same caliber as The Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast.  And the sad thing is, it came so close.

Despite its imperfections, Frozen is well worth seeing.  And as soon as it is available it will join the ranks of Disney films that line my DVD/Blu-ray shelves.

*** Spoiler Section ***
I'll admit it, upon seeing the trailer, the posters, and the way the story was unfolding, I was totally expecting Hans to be a good guy who ended up marrying Elsa.  Not so much.  Hans has got to be one of the most intriguing villains in recent memory just because he does such a believable job at being the typical Prince Charming.  He's handing out blankets during the eternal winter for crying out loud.  The only giveaway I can think of was his being the youngest of 12 brothers.  That did set off a little red flag, but I disregarded it.  I was totally expecting a moment like Enchanted, where he kisses Anna but nothing happens because they are now in love with different people.  Again, not so much.  Talk about a villain with a heart of ice.  Considering he was willing to let Anna die and prepared to kill Elsa, he sure got off light.  Disney villains don't usually fare so well.  Honestly, simply sending him off in chains felt a little weak to me.

In terms of what I said about pacing, the main moment that I felt was rushed was the climax.  There were other moments, but that was the most important.  Anna has just sacrificed herself for Elsa's sake.  She was prepared to die, either from the sword or her frozen heart.  That's a pretty powerful moment.  But it felt far too rushed from that point to when she starts to thaw.  Elsa needed more of a moment.  She needed time to grieve.  Her sister's an ice sculpture because of her.  She needs to feel that.

Moreover, we as the audience needed time to settle.  We needed a few seconds to truly process what Anna just did and what Elsa is now feeling.  There needed to be a moment where we as an audience could wonder, is Anna really gone?  Yes, it's a Disney movie and we already know the answer.  But still.  Both Beauty and the Beast and WALL-E have similar moments, moments where you start to wonder if the hero is lost.  In both films, we get a moment with Belle and with EVE as they mourn.  There is a tremendous power in those moments.  They're part of why those two movies rank in my top 5 films.  I wish Frozen had been brave enough to take that moment, to let the characters and the audience grieve.

I don't think I'm just being a nitpicking former film student.  That moment was a powerful chance for the audience to empathize.  Instead we get near-instant gratification.  That's a bothersome trade-off.

Still, the things that Frozen did right outweigh what it could have done better.  I heartily enjoyed the movie and look forward to seeing it again and again.

Quotable Quotes

• "Some people are worth melting for ... just maybe not right this second." -- Olaf the Snowman
• "You're gorgeous.  Wait, what?" -- Anna
• "Somebody's gotta tell him." -- Kristoff
• "Oh, look at that.  I've been impaled." -- Olaf the Snowman

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