Iron Man 3 Fun, Even With Some Kinks In The Armor

Posted on May 21, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: Paramount/Marvel

When is a man not a man? A man is not a man only when he gives up. That is what those who have not yet seen Marvel’s new blockbuster Iron Man 3 need to remember when going into this movie. Many of those who have seen this movie have complained that the movie didn’t feature enough of Tony in his suit; that it was essentially more melodrama than movie. Here’s the thing. Just as start Robert Downey Junior noted in recent reviews, he can’t keep doing the same thing over and over again. He meant that in terms of playing Iron Man/Tony Stark again in a potential Iron Man 4 and/or Avengers 2. But the reality is that those comments apply within the context of Iron Man 3 itself, too. Fans have seen Tony Stark don his armor time and again in the first two movies in this franchise. And for the most part, his armor has done the same sort of feats. So seeing Tony lose everything, including his suits (albeit temporarily) and forced to rely on just his wits was actually a nice change of pace. It showed that while he may not have been a superhero for much of the movie, he was still a hero and no less a man. That’s because he didn’t give up. He didn’t even let anxiety attacks hold him down. These are messages that any viewer, comic book fan or not, should take away from this movie.

The messages contained within Iron Man 3 are just one positive aspect to this movie. While it’s hardly perfect, the fan boys and fan girls that have lambasted it for its surprise regarding The Mandarin and the Extremis story arc have gone into the movie with too much of a closed mind. They perhaps didn’t catch that Writer/Director Shane Black and his Co-Writer Drew Pearce did in fact poke fun at themselves indirectly concerning this matter. When the truth is revealed about The Mandarin, Rhodey asks Tony, “This is The Mandarin?!” Tony retorts with one of so many wisecracks that audiences have come to love from him. Those that are open minded enough will appreciate that this short moment is actually Pearce and Black’s way of beating the fan boys and fan girls to the punch in hopes that it will get them to laugh at the story changes with them. Though, in defense of the fan boys and fan girls, it is a bit of a slap in their faces to turn The Mandarin into the minor figure that Black and Pearce did. Maybe in any future installments, audiences will get The Mandarin that they deserve.

Any viewer that can accept the story changes to Iron Man 3 will appreciate the eventual reward in the movie’s final climactic battle scene between Tony, Rhodey, and Killian. There are those that say this final showdown is the movie’s only real good part. But as already noted there is much more to be taken away from the movie. Seeing all the armor from Tony’s “Hall of Armor” lets audiences know that regardless of whether RDJ returns for Iron Man 4 or Avengers 2, odds are audiences will still see Iron Man return with much more armor and action in future installments. After all, certain parties noted that the most recent take on The Incredible Hulk would be the last one for a while. But obviously that’s now been proven false as the not so Jolly Green Giant is apparently back on the table again for Marvel’s next phase. So even if RDJ is done (as he seemed to note even within the context of the movie), it would be no surprise if Shellhead returns with someone else donning the Iron Man suit….or suits?

As one can tell by now, there is plenty for which Iron Man 3 should be applauded. For all of its positives, there are some negatives. The first of those negatives is the movie’s pacing. Its run time is roughly two hours and fifteen minutes. But it feels like it is much longer. Unlike its competitor, Star Trek Into Darkness, Iron Man 3 felt like (just as with DC’s The Dark Knight Rises), Black and Pearce were trying way too hard to cram everything they could into this one last installment so as to close the trilogy. What’s more, incorporating multiple villains, as so many of the comic based movies have done in recent years, only added to the movie’s length. It would have been much easier to simply stick with Killian as the main villain. After all, audiences are hand delivered early on the fact that Killian would be the main villain. The extra storyline may lead some viewers to find themselves checking their watches every now and then, wondering when the two hour plus movie will finally end. And because of this, it will ultimately leave some viewers realizing that this key issue has and will forever keep Iron Man 3 from being the movie that it was hyped up to be. Rather, it will keep Iron Man 3 little more than another transition point to Marvel’s next property, just like its comic books.

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WWII From Space An Excellent Introduction To The History Of World War II

Posted on May 10, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: History Channel/A&E Home Video

History Channel’s latest WWII documentary, WWII From Space is a good jumping off point for anyone that has ever had any interest in the…well…history of World War II. Much like last year’s release of History of the World in Two Hours, this documentary is not intended to go into the massively in-depth discussions of perhaps Vietnam in HD or WWII in HD just to name a couple of other History Channel war documentaries. Rather, this feature scratches the surface in the war’s history. It does so over the course of roughly an hour and a half. And it does so largely thanks to its mass of CG based visual aids employed throughout the presentation.

Some audiences have criticized WWII From Space because of its use of CG based visual aids. The reality is that this is not such a bad thing. Rather, it along with the feature’s relatively short run time that is solidly segmented makes it a wonderful addition for any high school and entry level college history course. The CG based maps of the earth present the movement of both the Allied and Axis forces throughout WWII. It also employs the use of what would be the equivalent today of military spy tech to present the different movements and weaponry of forces on both sides of the war. It’s like something out of the recent Iron Man movies. And keeping this in mind, it is sure to entertain not just younger audiences, but older audiences, too that are enamored by the ever changing scape of technology.

The CG based maps make for excellent visual aids in following the course of the war. Adding even more interest to this feature is the use of CG based graphics to illustrate the battles both on the land and in the air. One good example of this would be the comparison of U.S. forces killed in Pearl Harbor as compared to Japanese forces that were killed. Audiences learn the massively wide ratio of U.S. forces killed in comparison to Japanese dead. It uses helmets highlighted to show each side’s dead and points out the ratio clearly on screen. This is just one time that this strategy is used. It is used throughout the course of the program. Again, there is nothing wrong with such a method being used. Instead of simply filling people’s ears and minds with facts and figures, these illustrations help to drive home the sheer magnitude of the seemingly overwhelming odds that Allied forces faced over the course of the war.

The CG based graphics are the biggest part of this introductory level WWII documentary. Those behind its creation should also be applauded for touching on more than just the facts and figures of the war’s numbers in terms of casualties and force sizes, etc. Throughout the feature, audiences will notice the constant subtle note that the war was largely economic both in the Pacific and European theater. It takes the time to note that it was in fact an embargo on Japan that eventually led to the island nation’s military forces to attack American forces in Pearl Harbor. Anyone that has any interest in this side of the war would be well recommended to read author Evan Thomas’ book, Sea of Thunder: Four Commanders and the Last Great Naval Campaign 1941 – 1945. This book clearly notes the effect of the embargo on Japan and how it led to the decision by the Japanese government to attack U.S. forces in Hawaii. Even more interesting to learn in reading this book is something echoed by actor/director Clint Eastwood’s 2006 WWII foreign language movie, Letters From Iwo Jima. This movie, much like the aforementioned book actually points out that not all Japanese citizens wanted to go to war with the United States, nor did certain members of the Japanese government and military. Again these much more in depth discussions are all started by History Channel’s WWII From Space. So it proves just how valuable this documentary is even at an introductory level.

While the program and those behind it are to be applauded for their work providing introductory information concerning the economic influences of the war, there are other factors that are left untouched. For instance, the late mention of Truman making the call to drop the atomic bombs on Japan was more than merely Truman making the call. As anyone that has seen any of History Channel’s other documentaries will recall, Truman didn’t merely make the call. He offered Japan more than one opportunity to surrender before making the call. What’s more Truman took over during the course of the war after Roosevelt died. History Channel’s multi-disc set focusing on some of our nation’s most well-known presidents goes into depth about this very subject. Again, this goes back to the importance of this feature as an introductory level feature.

That WWII largely takes an introductory level is a very good thing for audiences of all levels despite what some might want to believe or say. It doesn’t attempt to go into too much depth. And yes it does move at a relatively fast pace. But it also is segmented as if it was a televised feature. There are breaks throughout the course of the documentary that will allow for audiences to stop, take breaks, and come back to the show at their own pace. This is especially helpful both in the living room and in the classroom as teachers won’t be forced to decide where to stop for the sake of class time. And home viewers can simply take the program at their own casual pace. What’s more, the Blu-ray presentation of WWII From Space will allow viewers to stop the program, take it from one Blu-ray player to another and bring it back to the original player, and pick it up from where it was stopped on said Blu-ray player if so desired. This is a minor detail on the surface. But in the grand scheme of things, it proves to be one more nice addition to the overall presentation. It prevents audiences from having to go through the scene selection menu on the main menu or from even having to search through the program to get back to where they originally stopped. Again, this is subtle but impressive. And combined with everything else already noted concerning this feature—from its CG based visual aids, to its introductory level information about the war, and its segmented presentation—it proves to be a great feature both for teachers and home viewers at any level and an enjoyable watch for anyone that has ever had any interest in the history of one of the world’s biggest conflicts. It is available now in stores and online. It can be ordered direct online from the History Channel store at
http://shop.history.com/detail.php?p=450976&SESSID=30040cc7fc45da7ca4832f41ee690e27&v=history
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Wreck-It Ralph Offers More family Fun From Disney

Posted on March 12, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: Walt Disney Home Entertainment

Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph was originally said by the company to be the first in a movement to attract more young male audiences. Disney made the announcement in 2010 when it released what was said to be its last princess movie for the foreseeable future in Tangled. Ironically enough, Wreck-It Ralph proves to be a movie that will appeal to both young male and female audiences as well as parents. Kids will enjoy the movie thanks to the backdrop of the video game world. Parents will appreciate the movie for its multi-pronged moral story placed against the video-game based world.

Wreck-It Ralph is an interesting story. On the surface, some might argue that it’s just a blatant advertisement for the video game industry. That is true, but only partially. It’s more than that. It pays homage to both the video game industry’s golden era and its more modern era. It’s more than that though. Anyone that remembers Pixar’s groundbreaking movie, Toy Story will almost instantly recognize something a similarity between that movie and this work. It is basically Toy Story set against the world of video games. Just as the toys in Toy Story had their own secret world and life, so do the video game characters in Wreck-It Ralph. And just as Woody was worried about being replaced, the characters in Wreck-It Ralph worry about their game being permanently unplugged. The lesson of friendship is also present in both stories. As can be seen, there are quite a number of similarities between Pixar’s groundbreaking CG based story and this latest release from Disney. For all the similarities between the two works, Wreck-It Ralph does manage to establish its own identity. It does this through its multi-pronged moral story.

The primary moral of Wreck-It Ralph is one of self-acceptance. Ralph—voiced by veteran actor John C. Reily (Cyrus, Talladega Nights, A Prairie Home Companion) learns to accept himself and be comfortable with himself despite the labels placed on him by the social structure of the video game world. But it isn’t until he develops a friendship with young Vanellope (Sarah Silverman) that he reaches this epiphany. He realizes that he should be happy with himself because he sees in Vanellope someone just like himself. And just as he sees a kindred spirit in Vanellope, she sees a hero in him, thus leading to the revelation that he doesn’t need a medal to be a hero. As long as he is a hero to one person, that’s all that matters. This is something to which any child and adult can relate, thus giving the story part of its heart. The other part of the heart behind Wreck-It Ralph lies in the topic of social acceptance.

Ralph learns in this story that regardless of the labels put on him by the video game world’s standards, he can be a hero to at least one other, thus leading to his epiphany of self acceptance. He isn’t the only one that learns a valuable lesson though. Those around him learn to be more accepting of him, too. That’s thanks to him uncovering a “royal” sized secret that could have had a major impact on the video game world in his journey of self-discovery. He ends up being a hero and saving the day. How he does won’t be revealed here for the sake of those who have yet to see this movie. But because word spread to his fellow video game characters, everyone’s view of Ralph changed. And sure he was still the “bad guy” in Fix It Felix, Jr., but he was much more accepted than at the movie’s outset. This lesson of social acceptance is one from which the entire family can benefit. And it’s one more positive to what is another fun and family friendly story from Disney. It may not be Disney’s finest. But it is still an enjoyable work. Wreck-It Ralph is available now in stores and online. It can be ordered online direct via the Disney DVD store at
http://www.disneystore.com/wreck-it-ralph-blu-ray-and-dvd-combo-pack/mp/1326674/1000316/
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New Clifford DVD A True Celebration For Every Fan

Posted on January 22, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: Lionsgate/Scholastic/PBS Kids

Clifford the Big Red Dog is turning fifty years old. Unbelievable! Everyone’s favorite oversized furry friend is celebrating his birthday with a brand new DVD release next month. Celebrate with Clifford is the first new Clifford release in two years. It will be available in stores and online February 5^th. The new release is a special double disc release loaded with lots of fun, family friendly adventures from Clifford, his fellow canine friends, and his owner, Emily Elizabeth. The two discs in this new release boast fifteen episodes from the hit series. The set’s first disc, Celebrate with Clifford has seven of the show’s episodes included in the set. All of the aforementioned episodes included in the first disc are full of family friendly fun and important life lessons that ring true for audiences of all ages.

Audiences learn a number of important lessons throughout the first seven episodes included in the set. In the episode, “Clifford on Parade”, Emily Elizabeth (Grey DeLisle—The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy) and Charley (Gary Leroi Grey—The Cosby Show) both learn about working together and about compromise when they have to decide on an idea for the float that they’ll enter in the town’s annual parade. Thanks to Clifford, they end up with one interesting float that even incorporates Clifford himself. In another episode, “Team Sprit”, young viewers are introduced to the lesson of good sportsmanship and being kind to others. The story here centers on young Vaz. Vaz is friends with Emily Elizabeth and the other kids. But he’s not the best soccer player. And Jetta doesn’t help as she openly tells Vaz he’s not that great of a soccer player. Of course she learns her lesson in the episode’s end. Audiences can find out how she learns her lesson when they check out this new DVD set for themselves.

All seven episodes included in the set’s main disc offer plenty of enjoyment and lessons for viewers. Luckily for viewers, they’re not all that viewers get in this new set. The eight bonus episodes included in the bonus disc also offer their own enjoyment. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, there’s even a Valentine’s Day themed episode in “Clifford’s Big Heart.” In this episode, Clifford is trying to make a Valentine for Emily Elizabeth, but things don’t exactly go as planned. That is until he finally realizes the best idea for a special Valentine just for her. His special gift will warm the hearts of both kids and their parents. Still not enough? How about the birthday and party themed episodes included in the set? “Clifford’s Big Surprise” sees Clifford getting his very own birthday surprise from Emily Elizabeth, her parents and his canine friends. At first it seems like everybody is avoiding Clifford. It leaves Clifford bored since there’s no one to play with. Luckily he finds a way to play by himself. Ironically, it’s right about then that Emily Elizabeth comes looking for Clifford so she and the others can surprise him with his birthday party. It’s just one of a handful of birthday themed episodes included in the set’s bonus second disc. The complete double disc set will be available February 5^th in stores and online. It can be ordered online direct via the Lionsgate online store at
http://www.lionsgateshop.com/product.asp?Id=28180&TitleParentId=8311
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Hey Arnold! At The Top Of Its game In Season Three

Posted on January 21, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: Shout! Factory/Nickelodeon

The third season of Nickelodeon’s classic Nicktoon, Hey Arnold! Was and is the hit classic cartoon’s finest hour. Out of the show’s five seasons on the air, this season showed the writing staff behind the show at the top of its game. To add to the enjoyment this time out, both Nickelodeon and Shout! Factory have gotten back to the basics and put the show’s entire season into one triple-disc set instead of splitting it up into separate volumes. And who can overlook the show’s continued standout hand drawn animation? As with all of the classic 90s Nicktoons, the hand drawn animation of Hey Arnold! helped to establish the show’s identity as well as provide its own form of entertainment for audiences. Assembled together, it all worked together to make for some of the show’s best episodes ever. And it all worked together to exemplify why Hey Arnold! was then and is still now, a modern classic cartoon.

Hey Arnold! Season Three shows the writing staff of this classic cartoon at the top its game. The episodes contained in Season Three are enjoyable first and foremost for their laughs and life lessons that are peppered throughout. Also making Season Three so enjoyable is that the show’s writers manage to flesh out the show even more, balancing episodes centered on Arnold with those centered on his friends, too. The episodes centered on Arnold’s friends are just as enjoyable as those centered on Arnold. One of the prime examples of this comes right off that bat in the episode, “Harold The Butcher.” Audiences get from this episode a solid story that focuses on Arnold’s friend Harold. It entertains and teaches the very valuable lesson of the value of hard, honest work. Harold learns this lesson after being made to work in Mr. Green’s butcher shop as punishment for shoplifting one of the hams from the shop. The irony of the episode is that what starts as a punishment turns out to be something that Harold thinks could be his calling as he enjoys being a butcher so much.

Harold isn’t the only one of Arnold’s friends that gets his own episode in Season Three. Side, another of his friends, gets two of his own episodes this Season. Both are enjoyable in their own right. But it’s the episode titled, “Sid’s Revenge” that audiences will really enjoy. Sid learns the valuable lesson to be careful what you wish for because you just might get it in this episode. He learns this lesson after having been wrongly accused of using fake vomit for a prank at school. When Principal Wartz doesn’t believe him, he wishes some very bad things against Principal Wartz. Ironically enough, circumstances arise that lead Sid to believe that Principal Wartz has indeed died. His reaction to these circumstances makes for some of the season’s funniest moments. That’s thanks in large part to voice actor Sam Gifaldi. Gifaldi’s comic timing is perfect from start to finish as always. His work is so solid that both the show’s original audiences and their own kids will still find it funny to this day. It’s just one more example of what makes Hey Arnold! Season Three such a joy.

Audiences will get a kick out of seeing the episodes centered on Arnold’s friends in Season Three. Of course Arnold still gets his time in the limelight. Those who have picked up the already released first two seasons know that they already get to enjoy both the entertainment and the important lesson taught in “Arnold’s Christmas.” Now audiences also get to enjoy just as much enjoyment from “Arnold’s Thanksgiving.” And as in “Arnold’s Christmas”, both Arnold and his secret admirer, Helga G. Pataki, learn a very valuable lesson. They learn in this half hour holiday special, to appreciate having the families that they have, as dysfunctional as they may seem. In seeing how dysfunctional the teacher’s family is, they realize that maybe what they have isn’t so bad after all. The lesson taught in this special episode makes it another excellent example of what makes Season Three so enjoyable. It isn’t without its entertaining factors, though. Audiences will laugh seeing just how dysfunctional Helga and Arnold’s families are. In the case of Arnold’s grandparents, his grandmother thinks Thanksgiving is July 4^th. So everyone in the board house is forced to celebrate in kind. In Helga’s case, she’s treated like a complete outsider since her older sister Olga is home for the holidays. The way her parents react is so outrageous. Yet there’s a certain amount of truth to their reaction. Anyone with more than one child will agree with the portrayal at least to a point.

Hey Arnold! is a solid show for the whole family. Anyone that grew up with this modern classic cartoon knows that. Whether in its third season or its other four, its writers developed stories that are timeless. They are timeless because of the balance of their general entertainment value and for the equally important life lessons taught through so many of the show’s episodes. This season’s episodes are no different. That has already been noted. The show’s animation style also helps to make it enjoyable. The animation used for Hey Arnold! is unlike the animation for any other show from Nickelodeon’s golden era. It really served to help establish the show’s identity in coordination with the equally solid writing for each episode. One example of how different this show’s animation was from any of the other Nicktoons of its time is the background art. While Arnold and his friends were so finely drawn, the backgrounds look like they were drawn with color pencils. In all reality, the backgrounds could even be argued to look like they were drawn with a certain style chalk. It’s a rough style. But that roughness set against the smoother style used for the characters makes for a wholly original style. And it’s that original animation style mixed with the equally impressive writing throughout that makes Hey Arnold! Season Three well worth picking up for any classic cartoon fan. It will be available in stores and online next Tuesday, January 29^th. It can be ordered online direct via Shout! Factory’s online store at
http://www.shoutfactory.com/?q=node/216624
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Top 10 Major Motion Pictures Of 2012

Posted on December 31, 2012 by philspicks

Top 10 Movies of 2012

Courtesy: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

1. The Artist: While it originally made its debut overseas in 2011, it wasn’t until January 20^th of this year that The Artist actually made its nationwide debut in theaters across the U.S. Before then, only the lucky few at the big festivals got to see it. That being the case, it should be considered a 2012 release. So what makes it 2012’s best? So much could be said. At a time when so much of what Hollywood churns out is prequels, sequels, and remakes, this story—distributed by Sony Pictures—went the total opposite. How simple and ingenious is it to make a silent film in a movie of major flash-bang-boom films? Because the movie’s only sound is its music, viewers are forced to watch. And the cast was force to really put on its best possible performance, rather than rely on everything else that most movies use to distract audiences from poor performances. The music is quite enjoyable, too. And of course, the general cinematography is just as impressive. It all combines to make for a movie that any movie lover should see at least once.

2. Mirror, Mirror: Some of you might shake your heads at this pick. But the reality is that this is really a fun and family friendly movie. Both boys and girls will enjoy it as will parents. While young Lily Collins (the daughter of superstar Phil Collins) is billed as the lead star here, it’s the dwarves who are really the story’s stars. Their antics make for more than their share of laughs. Though watching Prince Alcott (Armie Hammer—The Lone Ranger) put under the evil queen’s puppy love spell is pretty funny, too. It’s obvious that this spoof of the classic fairy tale was aimed both at boys and girls. With its mix of wit and charm, it will always be one of the best takes on the old Snow White story.

Courtesy: Disney Studios

3. The Odd Life of Timothy Green: This is another truly enjoyable family movie. The general story is one to which any parent can relate and will enjoy because of that. Though the concept of what happens with Timothy might be a little bit tough to discuss with younger viewers. The beautiful backdrop adds even more warmth to the story. And the cast’s acting makes suspension of disbelief so easy. Sure it’s sappy, emotional, and all that jazz. But that can be forgiven as it’s such an original and heartwarming story.

Courtesy: 20th Century Fox

4. Skyfall: This is where things begin to get a little bit touchy. Skyfall is by far the best Bond flick to come along in a very long time. That’s not to say that the previous two were bad. But this one brought back memories of the old school James Bond that everybody knows. It’s got the gadgets and the humor and none of the melodrama that weighed down the previous two Bond flicks. The only downside to the movie is that it tends to drag in the final act. Other than that, it is a nice return to form for the Bond franchise and gives hope for any future Bond films….that is at least if Christopher Nolan doesn’t get his hands on the franchise.

Courtesy: Marvel Studios/Walt Disney Video

5. The Avengers: The Avengers was a very nice way to cap off the build-up created by Marvel Studios with the recent bevy of comic book based movies. It had great special effects. Its story was simple and solid. And the shooting was equally impressive. Considering all the action going on, audiences weren’t left feeling dizzy to the point of wanting to walk out (or in the case of home release, just turn it off). But like so many ensemble cast movies, it suffered from a common problem. That problem was the movie’s run time. Most of the characters in The Avengers had already been introduced through their own separate movies. So there was no reason to re-introduce them all over again this time. A lot of that extra time could have been spared. Hopefully those involved have learned from that and will present viewers with a shorter movie in the second of the Avengers movies.

Courtesy: Warner Brothers Home Video

6. The Dark Knight Rises: I am just as much a comic book fan as anyone else out there. So it goes without saying that I was excited to see this movie. It did a good job of wrapping up the trilogy. The problem is that it did too much of a good job, as David Goyer and the Nolans tried too hard to cram everything into one movie. Word is that this latest installment of the Batman franchise left many people checking their watches when it was in theaters. It might have been better served to have been split up into at least one more movie because of everything added into the mix. And having what seems to be a lack of commentary on the new home release, fans can only guess what the logic was in cramming so much into one story. Much like The Avengers, the shooting and the special effects were great. So it has that going for it. But the writing was the story’s big problem. Here’s to hoping that whoever takes over the Batman franchise next (whenever it’s re-launched) won’t make the same mistake as Christopher Nolan and company.

Courtesy: 20th Century Fox

7. Prometheus: This semi-prequel to Ridley Scott’s hit Alien franchise was met with mixed reviews. There seemed to be no gray area here. Audiences either loved it or hated it. Truth be told, it worked quite well as both a prequel and as its very own stand-alone movie. Sure the special effects are different from those used in the original movies. But times are different. So viewers should take that into account. And the shooting was just as impressive. While it may not be as memorable as Scott’s previous works, at least audiences can agree that it’s better than the movies in the AvP franchise.

Courtesy: Universal Pictures

8. Les Miserables: This latest reboot of Victor Hugo’s classic story of love and redemption in one of history’s darkest eras is not bad. But it’s not great, either. Audiences who know the stage play will thrill at how director Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech) and his staff of writers paid tribute to the stage play both in its writing and its shooting. At the same time, Hooper tried so hard to pay tribute with his shooting style and the transitions that the whole movie felt dizzying to say the least. The shooting and transitions felt like nothing more than a bunch of cuts from one shot to the next. There was never a total sense of fluidity anywhere in the story. It was almost as if despite staying true to the stage play, the script for this latest big screen adaptation was written by someone with ADHD. Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway did a superior job with their performances. But despite that, odds are that the movie will sadly be remembered more for its flawed shooting and transitions than for its award-worthy performances. Nonetheless, it’s still a good movie for any fan of Les Miserables or for fans of musicals in general to see at least once.

Courtesy: CBS Films/CBS Home Entertainment/UK Film Council/BBC Films/Lionsgate/Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

9. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is without a doubt an original story. It’s next to impossible to find anything like it out there or present. But it suffers greatly from an identity crisis. It doesn’t know whether it wants to be a drama, a romance, or a little bit of both. It’s nice to see the simple message of something as simple as fishing being able to bring the world’s people together peacefully. But it really seemed to let the romance factor get too much involved. As a result, it got bogged down in itself. Had it not had the romance subplot, it might have been better.

Courtesy: Lionsgate

10. Arbitrage: It was once noted that three factors more than any other are the causes of crime. Those factors are: money, power, and sex. Arbitrage has all three of these. It’s an interesting movie. And it definitely wastes no time noting the latter of the trio of factors, as it lets audiences know that Robert Miller (Richard Gere) is having an affair with another woman. And also, Miller’s boss has a very firm talk with him early on letting him know that he knows about the financial inaccuracies that he’s causing. It doesn’t take long to know where this story goes. It’s something of a tried and true story. Add in this critic’s pet peeve of movies, the “whisper scenes” and it makes for a movie that as good as it is it could have been better. For those wondering, the “whisper scene” is exactly as it sounds (bad pun there). The “whisper scene” is one in which actors essentially whisper throughout the scene against overpowering music to make the scene more emotional and powerful. But put against the sudden transition to normal volume scenes (and above normal volume scenes), it becomes rather annoying as one has to constantly change the volume on one’s TV as a result of that. It’ll be interesting to see if it gets the Golden Globe for which it was nominated.

There you have it folks. That is my personalist of the year’s ten best major motion pictures. You are more than welcome to share whether you agree or disagree and what your top 10 list would look like. 2013′s already shaping up to be an interesting year. As the movies start to come out, I’ll have reviews of them, too. To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to
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Cinderella III A Good Finisher For The Cinderella Franchise

Posted on December 7, 2012 by philspicks

Courtesy: Walt Disney Home Entertainment

Cinderella III is a good finale for Disney’s Cinderella franchise. This franchise closer follows a tried and true formula but switches it up a little bit with an interesting twist that ties directly into the franchise’s second movie. It proves once again that true love will always overcome all obstacles. That includes an evil stepmother who would go to absolutely any length in order to get what she wants. Thus is the story behind Cinderella III.

Cinderella III returns to the conflict between young Cinderella who is already married to Prince Charming, and her evil stepmother, Lady Tremaine. When Anastasia (voiced once more by Tress MacNeille—The Simpsons, Futurama) discovers how Cinderella won over the prince in the first place and gets her hands on the fairy godmother’s wand, Lady Tremaine proceeds to use it to turn back time and try to keep Cinderella from ever being able to try on the fabled glass slipper that led to her happily ever after. The irony of the whole story comes from Anastasia. She ultimately plays a direct role in the final outcome of the story. Now on the surface, this goes completely against the final segment of Cinderella II. To that extent, some audiences may complain about an issue with continuity, since she was the one who caused Cinderella’s predicament in this story to begin with even after having found love in Cinderella II thanks to Cinderella. But the final credits of this story do at least make the attempt to tie everything back together.

The final credits provide more than just an attempt to tie the first two movies in the Cinderella franchise together. There is a final, funny moment that is tied in to the final moments of this story that will leave both parents and kids laughing. It’s a moment of two characters getting what comes to them. Who those characters are will be left to audiences who have yet to see this story for themselves. It’s a good finish to everything and makes amends for a story that would have made more sense had it been Cinderella II instead of the franchise’s third movie. Had this movie come second and Cinderella II come last, the entire franchise would have been near perfect because of how both sequels end. Nonetheless, it still is a good story for a sequel and a good watch for parents and kids alike both during the holidays and throughout the year.

The Odd Life Of Timothy Even Less Odd Than Before On Blu-ray

Posted on December 4, 2012 by philspicks

Courtesy: Disney

The Odd Life of Timothy Green is anything but odd. While so many critics have obviously had their field day with this magical, touching film, perhaps the reason they so abrasively bashed it is because they couldn’t see past their own noses to actually take in the story. Yes it is schmaltzy and saccharine. Yes it is aimed at childless parents. It’s all that. But it’s also much more. It’s a story that teaches audiences about life. It teaches audiences about the importance of family. And most of all, it teaches audiences to NEVER GIVE UP. Hope is the most important thing in life. As Morgan Freeman noted in the 1994 hit movie, The Shawshank Redemption, “hope is a dangerous thing.” Without hope, what do we have?

It’s obvious that The Odd Life of Timothy is entirely fantastical. But at a time when Hollywood is continuing to churn out endless streams of prequels, sequels, and remakes, this heartfelt family film stands as tall and colorful among the forest of movies currently out there as the leaves on the trees in this movie. What makes it so enjoyable is the emphasis on family. Jim Green (Joel Edgerton) finally came to realize that he was overdoing it as a father to compensate for his own father not being there for him emotionally. How many fathers out there can honestly look at themselves and say that hasn’t happened to them? Perhaps some. But odds are that number is likely very small.

Jim isn’t the only one who comes to realize what he was doing as a parent. Both he and Cindy (Jennifer Garner) realized in wanting a child so bad that they were letting the pressures of parents and others around them get to them. Most parents will likely scoff and say they have never done such a thing. That would be a lie, and those parents know it. No parent is ever ready to be a parent. A parent can only do the best that a parent can. And Timothy reminds Jim and Cindy that they were doing fine, as they were just trying to be the best parents that they could. Perhaps all of this is why so many critics have decided to have the take that they did on this dramedy. Much like certain sitcoms on television over the years, it’s such a mirror image to reality, that it’s unsettling to its viewers who refuse to admit that they see themselves in the roles.

Let the critics say what they will. Those critics have obviously forgotten that while yes, movies are meant as an escape, they are also meant to be memorable. And that is what The Odd Life of Timothy Green is. It’s an escape in that it is so fantastical of a story that audiences can’t help but let themselves be pulled into its world. The story alone pulls viewers into the world of Timothy and his parents. The audio commentary and bonus feature, “This is Family” make the movie that much more fantastical. “This is Family” is the primary bonus feature included in the brand new home release of The Odd Life of Timothy Green. Audiences learn through this feature, how the story came to life. In watching the near ten-minute feature, audiences see above all else just who much the entire cast and crew enjoyed making this movie. That is really what can and should be taken away from watching this feature. In understanding how much the cast and crew enjoyed the movie, it helps viewers to put into words exactly why the movie was so emotional and enjoyable all at the same time.

“This is Family” offers fans a glimpse behind the scenes of the cast and crew. It makes for its own added enjoyment and appreciation of the movie. For the enjoyment and appreciation added by this feature, the audio commentary adds even more of said feeling to this home release. Audiences learn some very valuable pieces of information about the movie via the director’s commentary, speaking of the movie’s crew. One of the most intriguing facts learned via the director’s commentary is that the forest scenes were by and large faked. It turns out that a certain amount of the movie was filmed in February. So the trees with their fall-like leaves were actually fake. They were specially created and shipped in via truck specifically for the scenes in question. Fans of this movie from North Carolina will be equally amazed to learn that certain other Fall scenes were actually shot in Asheville, North Carolina. To be more precise, it’s noted that said Fall scenes were shot at the Biltmore estate. It makes for that much more pride in North Carolina’s film industry.

On an entirely different angle, director Peter Hedges also reveals through his commentary that many of the cast in this movie were people that he personally knew from his own life. Understanding this makes for that much more appreciation for Hedges and his leadership behind the camera. It’s just one more of the many interesting facts revealed by Hedges’ commentary throughout the movie that audiences will appreciate. And it’s one more aspect of what makes this brand new home release that much more enjoyable for the entire family both this holiday season and any time.

With its magic, its heartfelt story, and bonuses, the home release of The Odd Life of Timothy Green has proven to be on of Disney’s best movies in a very long time. It is a truly memorable story. Sure the end is somewhat bittersweet (it won’t be revealed for those who have yet to see it). But it still does have a happy ending proving the value and the power of hope and the hope that there are still more enjoyable movies to come from Disney.

Liorti’s New LP “Real” good For Pop Punk, Emo Fans

Posted on December 4, 2012 by philspicks

Courtesy: Drive Records

Canadian rocker Mike Liorti (A.K.A. ROSEDALE) is beginning to make quite the name for himself. Anyone who has seen Disney’s recent tween special, Radio Rebel, might recognize him. Liorti has also been getting his name out there via time on the Vans Warped Tour and others. And there has been coverage from outlets such as muchmusic.com, MTV2, XM Radio and many other outlets. Now Liorti’s star may be rising even more with the release of his new album, Real.

Real is an eleven track piece of pop rock and emo that will easily appeal to its target audiences. It has all of the requisite hooks and choruses along with relatable lyrical content to keep its listeners’ attention. The first real noticeable song from Real is the album’s third track, ‘Past Times.’ In this song, Liorti sings, “Do what you must/But I must confess/I won’t stand to give up on this/Though it’s got so bad.” Much like many of the other songs on this LP, ‘Past Times’ is a song centered on relationship issues. Earlier in the song, he writes, “And these words are weapons/And I’m pulling the pin now/So just say the word/And it’s all over.” Keeping that line in mind along with the latter of the two lines, ‘Past Times’ comes across as a song about someone having relationship issues. Yet as the prior of the lines hints, Liorti’s figure in this song isn’t about to simply give up. He says, “I won’t give up on this.” His figure here wants to try and make things work. That alongside the musical backing helps to illustrate that emotion of someone trying to get through one of the difficult times in any relationship. It’s one of those pieces that Liorti’s audiences will enjoy and appreciate for its overall effect.

While ‘Past Times’ will catch audiences with its upbeat sound and relatable lyrics, Liorti offers a song that is the exact antithesis of said song in the form of ‘Eldorado Park’ later on in the song list of his new album. The gentle piano backing Liorti’s story of two people coming back together after being apart for so long. Again, it’s hinted that the separation in question is the result of a relationship issue. But the combination of the music and lyrics surprisingly makes it come across as something that could easily find its way onto the soundtrack of a rom-com or even romantic drama.

By direct contrast from the relationship based songs throughout this record, Liorti does offer listeners something with a little more meat to it in the form of ‘Be All & End All.’ He directly names an individual named Steve in this song. Apparently the individual in question had to have had quite the impression on him as he sings, “Hey two faced/You can talk the talk/But you’re running too soon/Before you can walk a little slower/Cause you’re one day short/One long day short of living.” He goes on in similar fashion throughout the song with equally strong musical backing that helps to illustrate once more, the emotion of the lyrics. It’s one more piece that again, Liorti’s intended audiences will appreciate given its intensity. Of course there are other songs on this record that his audiences will appreciate just as much.

Audiences can check out more music and get all the latest news and tour dates from Liorti’s ROSEDALE project online at
http://www.rosedalemusic.net
,
http://www.facebook.com/ROSEDALEexpress
, and
http://www.myspace.com/rosedalemusic
. Liorti’s North Carolina fans will get more chances this month to hear his music live as he will be making a stop in Greenville, North Carolina on Monday, December 17^th at the Tipsy Teapot. He will follow that up the following week with a performance at Glenwood Coffee and Books in Greensboro, North Carolina on Saturday, December 22^nd.

The Muppets Bring More Joy And Heart To The Holidays With New Re-Issue

Posted on December 3, 2012 by philspicks

Courtesy: Walt Disney Home Entertainment

Jim Henson was without a doubt, one of the most creative minds in both television and movies during his life. So it goes without saying that in his death, the world lost both a great person and a great mind. Considering the success of movies such as Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal and The Muppet Show, following up the success of those features while paying tribute to the Henson’s memory at the same time would not be easy. However, Disney and Henson’s son made a valiant effort to accomplish both tasks with the release of The Muppet Christmas Carol in 1992. Now twenty years after the original release of that story Disney has re-issued it onto a new Blu-ray/DVD combo pack for a whole new generation of audiences to enjoy.

The Muppet Christmas Carol is just one of any number of renditions of Charles Dickens’ classic literary tale. There are so many different takes on the classic tale that it would seem that one needs a program to tell them all apart. This modern take on the classic tale is enjoyable first and foremost for its general structure. Rather than trying to be just another take on Dickens’ story, it comes across as a stage play on screen instead of a movie. The sets and musical numbers alone give it that feel. And the cast’s acting adds to that feel, too. Veteran actor Michael Caine (Secondhand Lions, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises) does an expert job leading the cast as the infamous Ebenezer Scrooge. While Caine does an extraordinary job as Scrooge, it’s The Great Gonzo and Rizzo who take the story’s other light. Unlike other versions of A Christmas Carol in which the narrator is only heard and not seen, Gonzo takes on the mantle of Dickens, helping to guide viewers through the story on screen. In its own manner, this is actually a visual aid of sorts for viewers. It’s a very valuable aid, too. The comic turns between Gonzo and Rizzo add for even more entertainment for viewers, as well. Audiences will enjoy the pair’s physical comedy throughout the movie. At one point, Rizzo falls down a chimney with rather warm results. And the pair gets knocked off more than one window sill as it attempts to help viewers follow the story. These are just a handful of examples of how the cast’s acting makes The Muppet Christmas Carol enjoyable for the family. The acting aside, there is at least another aspect that makes this two decade old story enjoyable even today. That aspect is the movie’s general presentation.

The acting of both Caine and the puppeteers does a lot to make The Muppet Christmas Carol a believable and enjoyable story. But it’s not all that contributes to the movie’s success. The on-screen stage presentation is what really puts The Muppet Christmas Carol over the top. As noted already, there are so many renditions of A Christmas Carol out there that it’s tough to keep them all straight. Among that mass of different takes are movies that are obviously take offs of that story, just with different titles. The Muppet Christmas Carol does the exact opposite of those adaptations. Rather, it opted to pay homage to the original in its own way. Instead of trying to be another movie adaptation of the original story, it takes the avenue of being a stage play complete with enjoyable musical numbers and sets that make audiences feel as if they’re watching a play on screen. Combined with the acting, the musical numbers and sets will pull audiences in with ease and keep their attention throughout the near hour and a half story. And for those audiences who perhaps might have to get up during the movie for any reason, they are treated to something very special courtesy of the bonus “Intermission” feature. The “Intermission” feature allows audiences to pause the movie and enjoy extra musical numbers courtesy of other members of the Muppets cast.

Speaking of bonus features, the bonus features presented in the previous DVD presentation of The Muppet Christmas Carol are carried over to this new Blu-ray/DVD combo pack along with a pair of new additions. The “Intermission” feature is one of that pair of new features. The other new feature is an interview with Jim Henson’s son Brian Henson, who helmed this new take on the holiday standard. The manner in which the interview was conducted is worth its own share of laughs. That’s because Henson shares the moment with Gonzo and Rizzo. The three discuss different aspects of the film and behind-the scenes stories that will keep the entire family especially entertained. It’s just one more part of the whole that makes the new 20^th Anniversary Edition of The Muppet Christmas Carol fun for the whole family this and every holiday season.

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