Toy Story (1995)

In a world where a child’s favorite toy such as an Etch-A-Sketch or an R.C. Car comes to life when their “owner” isn’t present, the first computer animated film ever made, “Toy Story” is an instant delight for kids and adults alike. “Toy Story” has become a stepping stone in the animated film genre.
Brilliantly voiced with an all-star cast, and judging from the stubbornness of Tom Hanks’  Woody the Cowboy doll to Tim Allen’s confused and naive space-ranger, Buzz Lightyear, Pixar couldn’t have done any better when casting these characters. When families watch this film, you will see the heart and soul the actors put in during its production.
The animation in the movie is nothing short of beautiful. Director John Lasseter, screenwriters Joss Whedon and Andrew Stanton have all crafted a heartwarming piece of art, from pen to paper and from computer to the theaters, their talents paid off.
“Toy Story” flows so eloquently throughout its entirety. The stories of each individual character are not lost within the film’s overall story.
Randy Newman composes the film’s background music, and he also includes songs of his own which kids will be singing for generations.
The creativity displayed in Pixar’s debut feature film is absolutely genius. So much action packed into an hour and twenty-one minute family movie contributes to the elements of fun in this film.
Toy Story is a rare children’s films that never fails to entertain audiences of all ages.

Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, John Ratzenberger, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn

Director: John Lasseter

MPAA Rating: G

Runtime: 1 Hour and 21 Minutes
Synopsis: Woody (Tom Hanks), a good-hearted cowboy doll who belongs to a young boy named Andy (John Morris), sees his position as Andy’s favorite toy jeopardized when his parents buy him a Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) action figure. Even worse, the arrogant Buzz thinks he’s a real spaceman on a mission to return to his home planet. When Andy’s family moves to a new house, Woody and Buzz must escape the clutches of maladjusted neighbor Sid Phillips (Erik von Detten) and reunite with their boy.

Rate: A

Finding Nemo (2003)

A tale of triumph, loss, and friendship: “Finding Nemo” is a heartwarming, one of a kind film. Two disabled fish learning who they are and how to navigate the ocean blue, “Finding Nemo” is a beautiful, riveting story, with lots of clever humor. “Finding Nemo” will inspire and entertain audiences for countless years to come. 
Terrific job well done at the executed animation, which some will find spectacular. Others will enjoy the characters and the humors aspects of the film. Andrew Stanton, director of “Finding Nemo” made something both inspiring and humorous at the same time. 
   The crafted characters seen in the movie are etched with precise precision, it’s as if some of them are real. A talented ensemble consisting of Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, and Willem Dafoe, all do a superb job at their craft. 
        “Finding Nemo” is a phenomenal and thrilling achievement in animation, and it'll have a lasting effect on those with disabilities and those of whom don't have to struggle so hard. 

Starring: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Alexander Gould, Vicki Lewis, Willem Dafoe 

Director: Andrew Stanton

MPAA Rating: G

Synopsis: 
Marlin (Albert Brooks), a clown fish, is overly cautious with his son, Nemo (Alexander Gould), who has a foreshortened fin. When Nemo swims too close to the surface to prove himself, he is caught by a diver, and horrified Marlin must set out to find him. A blue reef fish named Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) -- who has a really short memory -- joins Marlin and complicates the encounters with sharks, jellyfish, and a host of ocean dangers. Meanwhile, Nemo plots his escape from a dentist's fish tank.

Runtime: 1 Hour and 41 Minutes

Rate: A+

X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

The follow up to 2014’s “Days of Future Past” and the ninth X-Men feature film, is an action packed, visual spectacle, but lacks going into more depth of telling a story. The performances in the film are great but can be a little too dramatic for the situation at hand: defeating the bad guy.
The cast led by: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Sophie Turner, Jennifer Lawrence and Evan Peters, is a wonderful team effort to destroy Oscar Isaac’s En Sabah Nur otherwise known as Apocalypse, the title character and the world’s first mutant.

Isaac’s turn at being the bad guy is good but also annoying in some circumstances. His voice as the terrifying character has voice enhancers to make it sound really eerie and utterly creepy.

A dry tone screenplay crafted by Simon Kinberg and useless non-action parts in this film do make up for the film to show its glory.

Evan Peters shines as the speed demon mutant and the film’s comic relief Quicksilver.

Other enjoyable moments that make up for Apocalypse’s mediocrity is a surprising cameo from Hugh Jackman’s adamantium clawed character Wolverine.

John Ottman scores the film which makes the it less dry than it already is. The score in the movie has eerie, sinister and haunting qualities.

Being set in the 1980’s, the costumes are dazzling. Perfect depiction of that era. Especially the hairstyles shown in the film.

Apocalypse gives audiences a fresh look at different actors portraying some of the same characters from previous X-Men films, as well as new characters who are introduced. Game of Thrones’ Sophie Turner plays the powerful Jean Grey. She does a fantastic job, becoming another breakout role to add to her credits.

Viewers also get to see other coming to fame actors like: Tye Sheridan, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Alexandra Shipp blast through their roles as: Scott Summers/Cyclops, Nightcrawler, and Storm. All of these fresh new faces you see on display here excel in the action with traits of being powerful and dramatic.

Apocalypse was helmed at the hands of Bryan Singer, who is no stranger to the X-Men franchise. The problem audience members will have when taking in this mediocre installment is the anticipated action that brews between both sides, good and evil. Also with its factor of excitement being not as great as other of the X-Men films.

Apocalypse just doesn’t seem to have all the energy as its predecessors Days of Future Past & First Class had to keep audiences fully engaged. Although it’s not as merely thrilling and vital of a movie as expected, X-Men: Apocalypse is the exact opposite of thrilling and entertaining for the most part.

Starring: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Evan Peters, Sophie Turner, Rose Byrne, Oscar Isaac, Hugh Jackman, Alexandra Shipp, Lucas Till, Tye Sheridan, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Nicholas Hoult, Olivia Munn

Director: Bryan Singer

Synopsis:

Since the dawn of civilization, he was worshiped as a god. Apocalypse, the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel’s X-Men universe, amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible. Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto (Michael Fassbender), to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) with the help of Professor X (James McAvoy) must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction.
Runtime: 2 Hours and 27 Minutes



Rate: C-

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The Shallows (2016)

“The Shallows” stars Blake Lively (The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants), in this powerful and dramatic, thrilling film about a medical student (Lively),whotakes a day at the beach to surf some massive waves. After a while, her character is suddenly attacked by a monstrous Great White Shark. Her character must endure tremendous amounts of pain and suffering to survive the deadly encounter and get help. Lively excels most at a dramatic aspect, therefore she delivers a powerful performance. Spanish director Jaume Collet-Serra who’s no stranger to directing dramatic films, does a splendid and riveting job at the approach made to execute this movie. Although the film has scenic wonders, the gore and other obscene special effects, which are without a doubt a realistic cause for nausea. “The Shallows” is a suspenseful modern day version of the 1975 summer blockbuster, Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws”.

Rate: C+


Directors: Jaume Collet-Serra and written by Anthony Jaswinski.

Starring: Blake Lively

Running time: 85 minutes.

Rated: PG-13 (for bloody images, intense sequences of peril, and brief strong language)

Alice Through The Looking Glass (2016)

Following the success of Tim Burton’s quirky and unique remake of “Alice In Wonderland”, “Alice Through The Looking Glass” is a colorful feat, but also bleak and sloppy. From the odd mind of Tim Burton, (now producing the film), brings a magical, enchanting film that is a step backwards from the 2010 blockbuster.

The performances in this film are nowhere near as jaw dropping, breathtaking and spectacular because of the film’s godawful screenplay written by Linda Woolverton (Maleficent). With a usually talented ensemble this film is garbage when it comes to seeing stellar and outstanding performances from the talents of: Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, and the late-great, Alan Rickman.

“Through The Looking Glass” displays flamboyant and extravagant costumes without a doubt, just like it’s predecessor. That is what makes the film enjoyable as a distraction from a terrible script. The film also has to offer stunning eye-popping visuals as another diversion for audiences.

Returning to score for the “Alice” films is the bubbly and gripping Danny Elfman, (The Nightmare Before Christmas). His composition in this film has some of the same fast-paced, classical, staccato vibes as the predecessor from 2010.

Sacha Baron Cohen (Madagascar), plays the weakling of a villain in this sequel, as Time. With a horrendous accent, differs from his own British dialect, his performance is undoubtedly one of the worst of his career.

James Bobin (The Muppets) takes over Tim Burton’s directing duties this time around, and it’s a failure. His approach with this film had more color and lots of awesome costumes, but was joined with a dreadful script. Overall he made a mess out of this film.

With a critically acclaimed predecessor, this successor is nowhere near as exciting and thoroughly entertaining as other classic Disney remakes.



Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Alan Rickman (last role), Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Matt Lucas, Sacha Baron Cohen

Director: James Bobin

MPAA Rating: PG

Runtime: 1 Hour & 53 Minutes

Synopsis: After slipping through a mirror, Alice (Mia Wasikowska) finds herself back in Underland with the White Queen (Anne Hathaway), the Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Her friends tell her that the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) is in a funk over the loss of his family. Hoping to save her loved ones, Alice steals the Chronosphere from Time (Sacha Baron Cohen) to travel into the past. While there, she encounters the younger Hatter and the evil Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter).

Rate: D+

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The Angry Birds Movie (2016)

Based on the flightless bird slinging app of the same name, “Angry Birds” makes its mesmerizing and colorful adaptation onto the silver screen. Angry Birds’ theatrical adaptation is a rare children’s film that has lots of witty humor that even parents will enjoy. What makes this movie such an enjoyable family motion picture is its pizzazz and blazing colors that dazzle through the entirety of the film. The film also does a terrific job at fabricating animation that looks realistic.

Directors Clay Kaytis and Fergal Reilly shine in their directorial debut. They both excel at the art behind the film’s color, character depiction, and humor. These qualities never fade and stay consistent through the whole film.

Kudos to the film’s casting director because the cast was brilliantly voiced in the movie. With voices only the ensembles voices resonate with their characters.

With having received multiple accolades since its launch in 2009, and over two billion downloads, Angry Birds is a long lasting gem for children for ages to come.

Starring: Jason Sudeikis, Danny McBride, Josh Gad, Maya Rudolph, Bill Hader, Peter Dinklage, Kate McKinnon

Director(s): Clay Kaytis and Fergal Reilly

MPAA Rating: PG

Runtime: 1 Hour & 37 Minutes

Synopsis: Flightless birds lead a mostly happy existence, except for Red (Jason Sudeikis), who just can’t get past the daily annoyances of life. His temperament leads him to anger management class, where he meets fellow misfits Chuck (Josh Gad) and Bomb. Red becomes even more agitated when his feathered brethren welcomes green pigs to their island paradise. As the swine begin to get under his skin, Red joins forces with Chuck and Bomb to investigate the real reason behind their mysterious arrival.

Rate: A-
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Ghostbusters (1984)

It's considered by many to be an instant Halloween movie favorite. Ghostbusters is a perfectly cast film, with humorous and intelligent dialogue, and for its time, good special effects.

Director Ivan Reitman does a really good job with the humor in the film, and executes the film with originality.

"Ghostbusters" features an all-star cast that is nothing short of superb. Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis all give stellar performances.

"Who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters!" It considered by many to be a Halloween movie favorite. Ghostbusters is definitely a classic film filled with good special effects, characters, and dialogue, that will be remembered for many years to come.

Rate: A

Ivan Reitman presents a Columbia Pictures film starring: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, and Harold Ramis. Runtime: 1 hour & 45 minutes. Rated PG