Review: Meet the Robinsons (2007)

Summary:

Lewis, an orphan boy genius, creates a machine that lets him see his past.   When his invention is wrecked at a science fair, a boy who claims he's from the future takes Lewis to the future in a time machine.   When the time machine breaks, Lewis must fix it himself to get home.

Thoughts:

     This film is a personal favorite of mine.   I love movies that are optimistic about the future!   With all the apocalyptic entertainment out there, it's nice to have a refreshing Utopian movie.   ☺   (Though apocalyptic movies can be very entertaining!)
     Lewis is a boy who aspires to be an inventor.   He is an orphan, and his mother left him on the orphanage step before he could remember her.   His inventions often malfunction badly, which causes parental candidates to run away in terror.   After another bad interview with potential guardians, he decided to build a machine that will look into his past memories and give him a glimpse of his mother.
     He gets straight to work, spending days and nights on his beloved project.   In his frenzy to finish the project, he fails to realize that his poor roommate, Goob, has not been able to sleep.   On the day of Goob's big baseball game and Lewis's science fair, Goob is so sleep deprived that he can barely keep his eyes open.   Lewis has seemingly no energy loss.
     An energetic judge, Dr. Krunklehorn, is the judge of the science fair.   She has several "caffeine patches" on her arm, claiming she hasn't slept in eight days.   At the fair, Lewis meets a strange boy who warns him to stay away from a man in a bowler hat.   Lewis ignores him, assuming that the boy is talking nonsense.
     Unfortunately, the boy was right to warn him.   "Bowler-Hat Guy" sabotages Lewis's machine, causing it to explode and ruin the science fair.   Lewis is heartbroken and runs away to the orphanage, leaving his machine to be stolen by Bowler Hat Guy.   Lewis, crushed by his failure, goes to the roof of the orphanage, where he meets the strange boy again.   The boy, Wilbur, claims he's from the future, and offers to prove it by taking him there.   Lewis agrees.
     The future is a wonderful place.   Everything is clean and beautiful.   People travel by flying car or by bubble, and robots do all the dirty work for the humans.  Lewis thinks this is very nice, but wants to use the time machine to see his mother.   Wilbur refuses to let him, and they end up fighting and breaking the machine.   They stuff it into Wilbur's father's garage and Wilbur tells Lewis that he must fix it.   Lewis must overcome his recent failure to get home.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

     This is such a cute and lovely film!   It shows the power of family and the power of caring for others.   There were several laugh-out-loud moments, and there are plenty of fun quotes to use for every occasion.   ("Mr. Steak, you're my only friend.")   It also has one of the best credit songs, Little Wonders.   I highly recommend this movie to people of any age!

Continue Reading →

Welcome to the Galaxy: Potential Heroes for GOTG Vol.2

(source)

A few weeks ago, Marvel announced the official title of the Guardians of the Galaxy sequel: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (which I find is a fitting title for not only the film series but comic book movies too). Since we won't be seeing our favorite Guardians take to the stars again until 2017 (I know, I know, the agony), I've been trying to spend my time in space anyways by reading the comics from 2008 and 2009. I was surprised to learn there are many more Guardians than the notable five from the first film.

I completely understand why the Marvel writers only stuck with the main five because frankly, five heroes in one film is a lot to handle. But that doesn't mean the other should be left to drift among the space debris. Here are three Guardians I think Marvel should include in Vol. 2.

Jack Flag (Jack Harrison)

(source)

Originating on Earth, Jack Harrison actually worked with Captain America for a time as a member of Cap's hotline (hence the red, white, and blue hair). He gained superhuman abilities (strength, speed, stamina) after an incident with Mr. Hyde and chemicals. Eventually,  he was paralyzed in the legs an thrown into the Negative Zone prison. This or that occurred, and he was rescued by the Guardians. The medical staff of Knowhere (the Guardians' HQ) healed his paralyzed legs and he joined the Guardians team.

(source)

So why should they include him in the next movie? Well, I for one love his hair. It's fabulous.
Also this could be one way to connect Guardians to Avengers (beyond Thor's visions and the string of infinity stones), which they undoubtedly will be doing over the course of the next few movies in preparation for Infinity War. But more than that is his uncanny ability to mention how much he hates space and "cosmic" stuff any time anything crazy happens. Don't you think he' fit right in with these scoundrels? (Plus he reminds me of Bucky, soooo bonus points?)

Moondragon (Heather Douglas)

(source)

Heather Douglas is the not-so-dead daughter of Drax the Destroyer. Raised by Thano's father, she was taught martial-arts, genetic engineering, and psionic powers (telepathy). Her mental powers developed so strongly, she encountered the entity Dragon of the Moon and won, thus naming herself Moondragon. However, the Dragon of the Moon was completely vanquished. After spending time on Earth (aka causing trouble and hitting on heroes like Daredevil and Thor) and traveling throughout the galaxy, the Dragon officially took over and she died. She was resurrected and joined the Guardians.

(source)

So why Heather? Not only is she connected to Drax, but in the comics she was given guardianship over one of the Infinity Gems. Could she also connect the Guardians to the Avengers somewhere down the road? In addition, I think the MCU is in need of a strong telepath since we can't have Professor X. Plus another strong, badass female heroine is always a good idea for Marvel. And Heather is definitely BA.

Cosmo (the Dog)

(source)

I know, you must be thinking: a dog? Seriously? Yes, I'm serious. I think Vol. 2 could use a talking, telepathic, Russian space dog.

Originally an experiment in the Soviet Space Program, Cosmo was launched into space and left to drift aimlessly. He ended up in Knowhere. Sometime during this journey he was mutated, hence the talking, extended life, and telepathic and telekinesis abilities. He eventually assumes the role of chief of the Knowhere space station, which lead to his involvement with the Guardians.

(source)

Why Cosmo? (aka why a dog?) I think it would be perfect to have another talking "animal" in the Guardian's galaxy? (The conversations between Cosmo and Rocket are hilarious.) I mean, it can't get any weirder right? (Wrong, you're wrong. it can get weirder.) Plus, somebody needs to stick around to make sure the Guardians don't kill themselves, right? Guardian Babysitter could be his new title. Plus, it's a talking, Russian dog with mind powers. (Oh, and he made an appearance in the first film as it is...)

(source)

There are many other characters who could join the team: Adam Warlock, Mantis, Phyla... but these three will just get us started for fun, laughs, and badassery action.

What characters would you like to meet in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2?

Continue Reading →

'Til the End of the Line: Five of Sky's Favorite Fictional BFFs

Friendship is one of the most important things in the human race. As C.S. Lewis said, “It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.” In fiction, friendships can be just as important as real ones. They make us laugh, make us cry, and inspire us to be better friends ourselves. Here are a couple of my favorite fictional friendships.

1. Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson (Captain America: The Winter Soldier)

Obviously, the main friendship in Captain America: The Winter Soldier is Steve and Bucky, but one friendship I think  is also important is that of Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson.

They first meet while working out in Washington D.C. (A perfect place for Captain America to live, really.) 

Their paths continue to cross, and Sam invites Steve to a meeting for war veterans. Though their circumstances are definitely different, Sam and Steve relate to each other because they’ve been through wars and seen terrible things. A lot of Sam and Steve’s friendship is shown offscreen, but they’re obviously close enough that when Steve needs a place to hide, he goes to Sam’s house. Sam welcomes him in without hesitation, and that’s when Sam officially joins Team Cap.

In the end, Sam agrees to go with Steve to find Bucky, something that’s pretty incredible when you consider that Sam is putting his entire life on hold to find someone he’s never even met. (I have a lot of feels about Sam Wilson, but that’s another post entirely.)

Steve and Sam are my favorite because they relate on a personal level, because they’re loyal to each other, and because Sam is a friend to Steve when he needs one most.

2. Samwise Gamgee and Frodo Baggins (The Lord of the Rings)

source

One of the very first friendships I was introduced to was that of Samwise Gamgee and Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings. While they weren’t extremely close at the beginning of the story, they become closer as they go on an extremely difficult journey to Mordor.

 

source

One of the reasons this friendship is inspiring to me is because of Sam. He is particularly loyal to Frodo, even to the point of giving Frodo his own food. In their darkest moments, Sam is there, saying there’s good in this world and it’s worth fighting for. And when Frodo can’t walk anymore, he gives the infamous line: “I can’t carry it for you, but I can carry you.”

 

source

Likewise, Frodo is grateful for Sam’s companionship, and is glad that Sam is with him, “here at the end of all things.”

In the end, I’m grateful Tolkien let us get a glimpse into the lives and friendship of these two resilient, amazing hobbits. Sam’s loyalty to Frodo means a lot to me personally, and I believe they’re one of the greatest friendship stories I’ve ever experienced.

 

“...and I don't plan to.”

3. Leslie Knope and Ron Swanson (Parks and Recreation)

Amanda and I did a post once about why Ron Swanson makes a great workplace proximity associate, and one example of this is his friendship with Parks and Recreation’s protagonist, Leslie Knope.

As different as they are, Leslie and Ron have a great friendship. Over the course of the show, Ron is always in the background of Leslie’s endeavors, quietly supporting her. Though he has a distaste for the government, he’s behind Leslie in her quest to make Pawnee, Indiana a better place. Leslie helps Ron as well and draws him out of his shell.

She gives him gifts, encourages him to pursue new opportunities (such as dating), and even sends him to an island in Scotland because she knows he’ll love it. When the other is down, they give each other pep talks. They inspire each other to be better people.

While they’ve had their ups and downs, which included not speaking to each other for a while, Ron and Leslie always find their way back to the comforting, easy, and strong friendship they’ve always had.

4. Jemma Simmons and Leo Fitz (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.)

I’d be remiss if I didn’t include the iconic duo from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., known jointly as Fitzsimmons.

Best friends since they met at the S.H.I.E.L.D. academy, Fitzsimmons were truly inseparable. They met some difficulties in season 2 when they were separated by both physical distance and emotional problems. Ultimately, though, they rejoin forces and become the best friend team they always were.

Jemma and Fitz are perfect together. They complete each other and often meld together to seem like they’re the same person. Jemma grounds Fitz’s more emotional side with her logic, and yet when Jemma is emotional, Fitz grounds her, too. They’d do anything for each other, as evidenced in the season 1 finale, and their friendship has stood firm through all the trials S.H.I.E.L.D. has faced lately.

Is it possible that their friendship will become something more? I have no idea, but one thing’s for sure: I hope they never have to live without each other, and I hope we never have to live without them. (Hear that, powers-that-be? Please don’t kill either of them.)

5. Rick Grimes and Michonne (The Walking Dead)

When Rick Grimes first met Michonne, I’m sure friendship was the farthest thing from his mind. Rick and his group were gearing up for a war, and he was cautious and wary about bringing Michonne into the fold. The whole group, including Rick, distrust Michonne for a good portion of season 3. They keep her around because they need her skill with a katana, but it’s a slow road towards Michonne’s acceptance. Ultimately, however, Rick learns to trust her after Michonne has proven time and time again that she’s on their side.

As time goes on, Michonne becomes an incredible asset to the group, and Rick learns to trust her implicitly. At one point only Rick, Michonne, and Rick’s son Carl are trying to survive together, which is when Rick and Michonne really get to know each other. Rick consults Michonne on what her opinion is on things and begins to see her as an equal.

source

In season 5, Rick and Michonne become deputies and that’s when it appears that Michonne really is his right-hand woman. In the season 5 finale, Michonne acts as someone to hold Rick accountable. She ends up knocking him out before Rick does something he regrets, which was a bold move that saved a lot of lives.

Rick and Michonne are examples of two strong people that become stronger together. I’d like to give major props to the writing team for that! Rick and Michonne are fantastic and their desire to work together to protect the ones they care about is so amazing. As the seasons go on, I look forward to seeing where their plotlines go, both individually and together.

What do you think of these friendships? Who are your favorite fictional BFFs?

Continue Reading →

Preparing for Mission Impossible

     There are a ridiculous amount of mainstream movie franchises that are getting sequels this year — and plenty of them have already slammed the box office into next Tuesday. There have been superhero fantasies, dinosaur-laden science fiction, and as Christmas rolls around we’ll be getting the much-anticipated next episode of the space-myth known as Star Wars. However, if anyone is looking for a good solid spy-thriller to tide them over before Spectre gets here in November, where should they turn? Melissa McCarthy’s Spy looked promising as an anti-James-Bond comedy, but ended up as a relatively mediocre raunch-fest despite all of its potential.

     Fortunately, there is another option, though many people may not realize it at first glance. Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation, the fifth in the M.I. movie franchise, is coming to theatres on July 31st… and it just might be worth the cost of the ticket!

     For those of you who want to refresh your memories about the series (or for those of you who haven’t seen any of the saga and would like an idea of what’s to come), allow me to delve into the Mission Impossible franchise and give you a thorough, spoiler-free idea of whether or not you’ll need to catch up on any of the prequels before heading off to see Rogue Nation.

Hogwarts Mission Impossible, A History

     What many viewers may not realize is that before it was a line of movies, Mission Impossible actually originated as a television series between 1966 and 1973. It wasn’t until 1996 that the first film, starring Tom Cruise, was released to positive reviews by critics and fans alike. That success eventually spurred the release of sequels, ranging from the simply titled “Mission Impossible II” (2000) and “Mission Impossible III,” (2006) to the more recent “Ghost Protocol,” (2011) and upcoming film, “Rogue Nation,” (2015).

     While it can be argued that Mission Impossible II was somewhat of a really poor James Bond ripoff…

     …on the whole, the franchise has actually defied logic by getting better over the years, instead of worse. Pretty fitting for a series with the word “Impossible” in the title.

     Mission Impossible III provided a wild mixture of thrills, chills, and ridiculous stunts that re-kindled critic and audience interest in the series (probably thanks to nerd-legend J.J. Abrams, who directed the film, and the new addition of British comedian Simon Pegg).

     Then Ghost Protocol somehow managed to raise the bar yet again in 2011… perhaps because (among other things like a great plot and dose of humor) it included newcomer Jeremy Renner, who made his first cameo as the super-archer “Hawkeye” that same year in Marvel’s Thor.

     So, if the franchise's pattern of improvement is to be trusted, Rogue Nation actually looks like a pretty promising movie choice this summer.

The Plot

     The television show followed the spies Dan Briggs and Jim Phelps as they worked for the IMF (Impossible Missions Force) on various top-secret, not-strictly-legal exploits.

     The movies more or less pick up in 1996 as if the IMF never stopped.

Mission Impossible

     The first film focuses on a young new spy named Ethan Hunt (played by Cruise), who is a member of an IMF team headed by Phelps. But when that team is massacred in the middle of a mission that should have been top-secret, Hunt is accused of being an enemy informant and must go to ground until he can prove his innocence… even if it means breaking back into IMF headquarters.

Mission Impossible II

     When a criminal tycoon named Ambrose steals a deadly virus and plans to make a fortune selling the antidote, Hunt is recruited by the IMF to stop him. However, he must send his new girlfriend Nyah undercover to seduce Ambrose in order to find out who wants to purchase the virus from him.

Mission Impossible III

     Having given up his career with the IMF in order to try and live a normal life with his fiance, Ethan is sucked back in on one last mission when he learns that his top protege is being held hostage. However, this single mission snowballs into a terrifying mixture of deception as he faces his most merciless opponent yet.

It's arguably one of Phillip Seymour Hoffman''s most riveting performances.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

     When a mission goes wrong and the IMF is blamed for a massive terrorist attack on foreign soil, Ethan Hunt and his team must band together and find a way to stop a madman from inciting nuclear war… without any help or resources from the now-shut-down IMF.

The Appeal

     Believe it or not, the catchy musical theme and convoluted, whodunnit plots aren’t the only things that make these films so famous. In the modern age of computer animation and stunt doubles, what a lot of viewers don’t realize is that Tom Cruise does nearly all the stunts himself, often with minimal or no safety gear.

     Even if you’re not a fan of his acting or his life choices (including these stunts), you have to stand in awe of the fact that he’s still alive. I honestly have an uneasy suspicion that these movies might one day be the death of him.

     Whether Tom’s dangling off a cliff-face, a hundred-story building, or (in this latest film) an airplane, the audience can’t help but be hooked because they know that there may be no net on the ground to catch him. There is no green screen. Those risks heighten the fright and vertigo and adrenaline that viewers get while watching, and it makes for one exciting ride.

     There are one or two stunts that were mixed with CGI, and whenever possible there are hidden rigs for Tom’s safety, but that doesn’t change the fact that he may be relying as little as one single wire to keep him from falling to certain death. These stunts and these movies are some of the central reasons why he was rocketed to stardom in the first place.

The Rating

     The franchise is PG-13, definitely palatable for anyone who has watched a James Bond movie from the past three decades.

     Violence: There may not be visible guts and gore, but there’s plenty of blood and cringe-worthy deaths by bullet, vehicle, bomb, and more. The series doesn’t center itself around violence so much as action, but those two terms still do tend to go hand in hand.

     Sex: There’s a fair number of women in slinky dresses and seducing poses, and there are one or two intense makeout sessions or waking-up-in-bed scenes that don’t really need to be there. It’s also notable that there hasn’t been a single female character to be present in all four movies. But, at least in the third and fourth movies, the women that are involved do have some decent and respectable roles.

     Language: These are adult spies in some surprising and deadly situations, so we get about as many curses as a PG-13 rating might be expected to get.

The Genre

     Mission Impossible mixes high-stakes action sequences with heart-pounding undercover missions, ridiculously-deadly stunts, shocking deceptions (usually in the form of rubber face masks), and even a tiny sprinkling of sci-fi technology! There’s not much in the way of moral discussions or big symbolic themes, but if you enjoy the sort of simple thrillers where you can trust no one, the series just might be a fun choice.

     So is it worth it?

The Decision

     Possibly. Fans may debate on whether the entire saga is good enough to watch, but the third and fourth films definitely are… and the good news is that the movies don’t really need to rely on one another to be understood. You could watch movies 1-4, but you could just as easily skip Mission Impossible II (which I would recommend). And if you’re really in a rush to catch up, you could pretty much just watch the third and fourth movies by themselves without missing a beat!

     Trailers

     And if you’re still on the fence, there’s a decent ultimate fan-made trailer on Youtube that might interest you if you’re more of a visual person (like myself). It doesn’t have much in the way of thrilling music, but it’s a good compilation.

Conclusion

     In the end, I’d recommend that you figure out how much time you have on your hands, and how badly you want to see Rogue Nation this Friday. Mission Impossible isn’t always the most intellectual or even original spy series on the market, but the franchise has gotten better with age, and many of its actors have performed near-deadly stunts... which truly makes it worthy of the name "impossible".

Continue Reading →