Kubo and the Two Strings review

To anyone who's a fan of movies, please go see this.

Kubo and the Two Strings is an absolutely stunning, beautiful, gorgeous movie and a breath of fresh air amidst a sea of forgettable blockbusters. It is largely everything I can want in a movie:

• Top-notch animation/production values
• Amazing soundtrack by Dario Marianelli
• Stellar art direction and costumes
• Great (adult) themes
• A solid (dark) fantasy/folk story plot
• Great villains
• Good comedy and humor (for both kids and adults)
• Heart-wrenching sentimentality and emotion
• Did I mention the soundtrack? It's really good

There is very little about it I didn't like and it's easily Laika's best yet (note: I've yet to see Boxtrolls, but meh).

However, is it perfect? No. I can understand some arguments about how the voice casting could have been more culturally sensitive, as well as how some of the themes/ideologies may come across too heavy-handed. But I'm willing to forgive both of those because the film is just that good.

One other area people may complain about is the relatively straight-forward plot, which consists of gathering items in order to defeat the villain(s). However, this is offset by some rather sly comedy that leans more adult/meta. I can understand how some may find it disconnecting, but it worked for me.

Regardless, I LOVED this movie and HIGHLY recommend it. I saw it in 2D and would gladly go back to see it in 3D. Hell, I wanted to instantly rewatch it, which is rare.

Please, if you love cinema, go see this movie. It deserves to be on any best of 2016 list and NOT just in the animation category - declaring it now.

Again, if you are a fan of movies, please go see Kubo and the Two Strings. Then listen to the soundtrack on Spotify or buy it from Amazon.

The Brother from Another Planet movie review

The Brother from Another Planet is a surprisingly enjoyable movie about the immigrant experience told through the story of an alien's first encounters on Earth.

Joe Morton is wonderfully endearing as the completely mute alien known as The Brother. The film features some downright excellent scene work which occasionally manages to have great social commentary (it's seriously top-notch stuff, particularly for 1984), while also including some fun absurdist moments, particularly from the dynamic duo of writer-director John Sayles and David Strathairn (yes, that David Strathairn) as two character who could fit perfectly in SNL sketches. The music selection is also a nice hodgepodge of songs, with a few being personal standouts.

However, TBFAP is missing just a little something to hit real greatness (it could click or gel more), but it hits the right spots enough to be satisfying, if not moreso.

Easily recommended if you can find it.

The Mummy (1999) movie review

Stephen Sommers' The Mummy is a fun serial throwback rollercoaster ride with gun fun characters, good humor and good action. Is Rick a little too machismo? Is Evelyn a little too damsel? Perhaps, but they have enough moments to round themselves out, particularly Evelyn (while the film skews heavily male, it had some solid feminist moments that come across very naturally).

Yes it's a 90s movie, complete with cheesy CG, but the art direction works. The movie may have some cringe worthy moments with regards if you read into the social portrayals, but on the whole it works (it may lose some steam towards the end).

Also, solid soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith.

Very fun and recommended.