REVIEW: Frozen

"Olaf, you're melting!"
"Some people are worth melting for."

Based loosely on the story of The Snow Queen, Disney's latest animated feature film focuses on the powers of family, love, and acceptance.  This film was co-directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee and stars some incredibly talented vocals.  Frozen is a massive success for Disney, and easily finds a place in the collection of Disney classics.

Frozen tells the story of two sisters, Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel), who grow separate over their childhood.  Elsa was born with magical powers that enable her to have control over ice and snow.  One night, while she is playing with her sister, she accidentally harms her, and so her parents keep her isolated from everyone by keeping her in her room.  But, one day, Elsa comes of age and becomes Queen.  With the public finally allowed into the building, Anna meets a prince that she thinks is her true love, Hans (Santino Fontana).  During a dance at the royal castle, Elsa and Anna get into a quarrel, and Elsa accidentally reveals her hidden powers to everyone in the room.  She is condemned for being a witch, and so she flees to the mountains.  However, Anna is determined to find her and help her.  Along with Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), an ice salesman, and his reindeer Sven, this misfit group meets Olaf (Josh Gad), the happy snowman, and together they embark on the journey of a lifetime to find Elsa and end the eternal winter that has cursed the land.

I can't say enough good things about Frozen.  From the storyline, to the beautiful animations, to the extraordinary singing and soundtrack, everything about this movie is a success.

I realize that the storyline I just described may sound corny and cliched, but believe me when I say that this movie is neither of those two adjectives.  This film features a variety of different twists and turns that keeps the audience engaged in the story.  Also, I really like the new direction that Disney is taking with their movies.  Like Brave and Tangled, Frozen features a strong female lead.  Also like those two animated movies, the ending may surprise a lot of people.  But what really sold the story for me was the character Elsa.  Disney has managed to create a likable, complex 'villain.'  She's not the evil Snow Queen you might expect, and that makes the movie all the more enjoyable.

The animation in the film is simply fantastic.  Disney is getting better and better with their animations with each new film they put out.   The snow, in particular, is perfectly animated.  Also, the scenes when Elsa constructs her ice palace are animated in epic proportions and they feature some dazzling effects.  While Pixar is probably still the best in animations, Disney Animations without the assistance of Pixar is a close second with their attention to acute details.

And now, for my favorite part of Frozen - the singing and the soundtrack.  I can't recall a Disney soundtrack like this since The Lion King.  Not only are the tunes catchy, but the songs are good even when not attached directly to the movie.  This is especially true for the song Let it Go, sung my the immensely talented Idina Menzel.  This song has been nominated at the Golden Globes for Best Original Song, and I'm sure it will be nominated at the Oscars as well.  The lyrics are impactful and Menzel gives a powerhouse performance, knocking the song right out of the park.  It was with this song that many viewers, myself included, fell in love with the character Elsa.  In fact, Elsa has become one of my all-time favorite Disney characters.  That being said, essentially all of the songs in this movie are great and they are all sung by excellent singers.  Kristen Bell really surprised me with her amazing voice, especially with her charming performance of For the First Time in Forever.  Even if you don't get to see the movie, check out the soundtrack.  It's the best part of an already great Disney animated movie.

Featuring top-notch animations, a compelling storyline, and a spellbinding soundtrack, Frozen is easily one of the best animated movies of the year.  When the second trailer was released, a title card stated that Frozen would be "the greatest Disney Animated event since The Lion King."  When I reviewed the trailer on the blog, I wasn't happy and said that Disney shouldn't make a claim of that magnitude.  However, now that I've seen the movie, I can't help but agree.  Frozen is a near-flawless movie, and if its still in your local theater, I highly recommend checking it out this holiday season.

RATING: 5 / 5

This film is rated PG (some action and mild rude humor)

NEWS: Movie Viewerz is Back!

After over a month long break, it's time for the reviews to start being posted again.  With the holiday season being lined with several films that are Oscar contenders, I'm sure there will be a lot to talk about.  Here are just some of the reviews to look forward to in the coming weeks:

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Frozen
Saving Mr. Banks
American Hustle
The Wolf of Wall Street

Be sure to check back regularly as more reviews are posted!

REVIEW: The Rocky Horror Picture Show

It's raining.  Your car breaks down.  You have nowhere to go to safety, so you walk back to a castle you saw.  But this is no ordinary castle; it's the home of Dr. Frank-N-Furter.  This is the start of the cult classic, The Rocky Horror Picture Show.  Far from normal, this musical takes audiences on a sexual journey to self-discovery.  Weird and wacky with insanely catchy musical numbers, this film is definitely a fun time.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show tells the bizarre tale of Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon) on their way to visit Dr. Scott (Jonathan Adams).  On the way, their car breaks down.  Running through the rain, they end up at the castle of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry).  While there, they get sucked into the odd events of the evening and the grand unveiling of Dr. Frank-N-Furter's creature, Rocky (Peter Hinwood).  The rest of the events lead to a night that Brad and Janet will never forget for the rest of their lives.

This is by far the weirdest movie I have ever seen.  But it is also one of the best musicals I've ever seen.

The music in Rocky Horror is simply fantastic.  It has one of the catchiest albums I have listened to.  And the songs on the album are so well-recognized.  Even if you have never seen the movie, chances are you've heard The Time Warp.  Or you've heard the expression, "Dammit Janet."  The film also features rock musician Meatloaf, who plays Eddie, and sings Hot Patootie - Bless My Soul, which has become a popular song even outside the context of the film.

The acting in this film is also great.  The actors were definitely pushed to do some weird things, and they all coped well.  Obviously, Tim Curry gives a stellar performance as a transvestite.  It's his performance that has truly made the movie immortal and added to the hype of this cult classic.  Richard O'Brien also does a fantastic job as the creepy servant, Riff Raff.  O'Brien also wrote the original Broadway show as well as the film, so I'm sure he knew his character inside and out.  Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick do a good job showing the descent of their characters - from pure innocence to dark sensuality.  But the rest of the cast does a good job as well.  They all add to the weirdness of the film.  I'm sure it was a fun cast to work with and a fun time to film!

For all of its insanity, this is by-far one of my favorite musicals.  I didn't always think it was this good, but I recently was in the live version playing Brad Majors (Yes, I am now biased towards that character!) and had to watch Rocky Horror numerous times.  Each time I watched it, it got better.  It may be more weird than Sweeney Todd, which I also just reviewed, but it's equally good.  And it's even better if you watch it with friends.  I definitely recommend watching this movie, and if you ever get the chance, try to see it with live actors and with an audience.  I guarantee it will be a night that will thrill and chill you!

RATING: 4.5 / 5

This movie is rated R (sexual themes)

As a fun side-note, I just thought I'd share one of my new favorite pictures.  Gotta love Brad Majors! :)

REVIEW: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Sweeney Todd - the ultimate tale of revenge.  I can think of nothing more vengeful than slicing people's throats and turning them into meat pies.  Directed by Tim Burton, this wild musical takes audiences into the dark alleys of London.  From the music to the acting, this movie is a smashing-hit and succeeds on virtually every level.

Sweeney Todd tells the story of a barber out for revenge.  Mr. Todd (Johnny Depp) returns to London to take care of some unfinished business.  Years ago, a corrupt judge (Alan Rickman) stole Mr. Todd's wife and put him in jail to keep him out of the picture.  But now he's returned.  He makes his way to Fleet Street and ends up at a run-down, filthy pie shop owned by Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter).  Together, this dynamic duo wreak havoc on the streets of London.  And the vicious vengeance won't stop until Mr. Todd gets to his target victim, Judge Turpin.

It sounds like just a bloody slasher movie.  And that's because it is... on the surface.  But Sweeney Todd is more than just a gory musical; it's a piece of cinematic art and one of Tim Burton's greatest achievements.

First of all, make no mistake, this movie is a musical.  Thats right - a musical.  It's hard to believe a movie about deranged serial killers can be a musical, but it is.  The music in this film is downright wonderful.  Taken from the hit Broadway musical, the songs are catchy and easy to listen to.  And both Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter really bring the songs to life.  They aren't the worlds greatest singers in any way.  But they do sing rather well, and more importantly, they use their singing to bring their characters to life.  They sing the way their characters would sing, and it works perfectly.

The songs in this musical vary greatly, but they all compliment each other.  Some of the songs are light and airy and romantic, like Johanna, Green Finch and Linnet Bird, Pretty Women, and By the Sea.  Others, though, are more sinister and dark, like Epiphany.  But all of the music, no matter the style, is incredible.

In terms of setting, lighting, and costume design, there's nothing new here.  From the first scene until the credits, this movie has Tim Burton written all over it.  It's dark and gray, almost giving it the appearance that it was filmed in black-and-white.  Because it takes place in London, it's foggy and rainy most of the time too.  The location, in general, is bleak and depressing.  Also typical of Burton's style, the wardrobes for the characters are outlandish, but they are pretty tame compared to other films he's done and they work for this musical.

More than just the music and Burton's signature style, this movie largely succeeds due to a stellar cast.  As stated before, Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter knock their performances out of the park.  They are both brilliant in this movie and form one of the most twisted love stories ever shown on film.  Alan Rickman also gives a great performance as the evil judge.  Rickman is used to playing the villain, so he has mastered the art.  But his singing is also showcased in the movie, and he copes well with the songs.  Jamie Bower plays Anthony, a young man madly in love with Mr. Todd's daughter.  He gives a powerhouse performance for his brief time in the movie and his singing of Johanna is beautiful.  Other good performances in the movie go Timothy Spall and Sacha Baron Cohen, who both fit their roles as somewhat comedic relief quite well.

This sick and twisted love story of revenge turned into a musical is spellbinding and wonderful.  Though I have not seen the stage production of the show, I'm sure the movie has done it justice.  It's definitely worth checking out, even if you're not a fan of musicals.  The people I know that generally don't like musicals enjoyed the film, just showing how well done it is.  So forget about No-Shave November, break out your straight razors and take a seat - it's time for a shave!

RATING: 4.5 / 5

This movie is rated R (graphic bloody violence)

NEWS: New Wolf of Wall Street Trailer Released

Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio fans rejoice!  Today was full of big news for Scorsese's latest film, The Wolf of Wall Street.  First, despite rumors that the film would not be completed before 2014, an official release date has been set.  The Wolf of Wall Street will hit theaters on December 25, 2013.  This release date keeps it in the running for the 2014 Academy Awards, and this film will certainly be an Oscar contender, especially since The Monuments Men has dropped out of the race.

Second, another trailer has been released for the film!  You can view it below:

This trailer showcases DiCaprio's dynamic acting skills.  Like the first trailer, it's fast-paced and feels fresh.  It's amazing that despite Scorsese's age, he's able to keep up with the times and make modern-feeling movies.  While this trailer, like the last one, features some comedic moments, this one definitely feels more intense.  This trailer also features a lot of Jonah Hill.  As of right now, he seems to add to the comedic relief of the film, but I'm sure his serious acting will be shown in the movie.  Overall, this is another fantastic trailer to what I'm sure will be another fantastic Scorsese-DiCaprio movie.  

What did you think of the trailer?  Comment below and let us know!

REVIEW: The Thing (1982)

   THROWBACK THURSDAY!!! (Late by a day...) It's here, and to stay in the Halloween spirit, I decided to write about my very favorite horror film. That may be a bit of a spoiler to what the score will be, but just wait... I'll be reviewing a terrible "scary" film I recently saw in theaters sometime in the coming days. To be specific, this discussion will be about the 1982 version of The Thing. Not the 2011 version of The Thing or the 1951 The Thing From Another World. For those of us that aren't familiar with this movie, watch this trailer:

   This is one of the most tense, scariest movies I've ever seen. The visuals were some of the best at the time, and these effects (which were created using actual animatronics) create a movie that still looks amazing today, along with a suspenseful story and believable characters brought to life by their actors. It was directed by John Carpenter, who is famous for films like Halloween, Escape from New York, and Big Trouble In Little China. These films, apart from being very strong on their own, are also famous for their visual styles and interesting characters. It isn't a surprise that The Thing is the same way.

   The film is based on the short story Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell, Jr. It follows a team of twelve Americans on a base in Antarctica. A Norwegian shooter (who is later revealed to be in a research team further away) chases a dog into their base. After firing on it and wounding one the American crew members, their captain shoots him. From here, the Americans search the destroyed Norwegian base to find that they discovered something in the ice. We later find out that this thing that they discovered is some sort of alien, who was trapped, but is awake again. It has the ability to imitate anything, including humans, and the horror begins.
   The cast is lead by an unwilling pilot, R.J. MacCready, played by Kurt Russel (Russel and Carpenter worked together in Escape from New York and Big Trouble In Little China, as well). He is the star of this film, but only a small bit of an awesome ensemble cast. You have Garry (Donald Moffat), the base captain; Clark (Richard Masur), who cares for the dogs; Childs (Keith David), a strong and commanding type who often finds himself butting heads with MacCready; among many more. The entire time, we're never 100% sure who is fine and who is one of these things. They behave exactly the same as those in the crew they transformed into, and only strike when alone or when discovered. Soon, a big snow storm comes by the base, and traps the crew there. Slowly, we see them die, one by one, before the final confrontation between those left and the thing.

  
   This film is all about the atmosphere. It has a very claustrophobic feeling, comparable to Alien (see the coming Throwback Thursday on Halloween!), being stuck in Antarctica. Between the small base and tight corridors within it, there is a lot of tension building between the entire ensemble cast. With the many different personalities between these people, we see changes in trust and what this person would usually do in this type of situation. We're constantly trying to figure out who is one of the things by watching their various actions, asking ourselves, "Is this something that we would've seen him do before?"
   The best bit of this movie, though, is the look. While these things look like us by default, they can transform in a second to something much more terrifying (see that pretty picture above). Although it is never actually told to us, these forms it takes seem to be some sort of mixture of other creatures it once copied, adding a whole other type of scare to this scenario... Did this thing conquer other worlds before coming here?

  
   Overall, this is one of the best thriller/horror films I have ever seen. It's one of those movies I'll watch again and again and still notice new things (I suppose it doesn't work for that one...) that I didn't before. The effects are still extremely slick after all this time, and the actors are still just as believable and fun to watch. However, when looking at it from afar, the true star is the creature, THE THING.

RATING: 4/5

NEWS: The Monuments Men Delayed

The Monuments Men, which made the Oscar Predictions Lists for both Tyler and I, has been pushed back to a 2014 release date.  With a later release date, this film is no longer a contender in the upcoming Academy Awards.  The delay decision was made by director, producer, and star George Clooney, who stated:

"We just didn't have enough time.  If any of the effects looked cheesy, the whole movie would look cheesy.  We simply don't have enough people to work enough hours to finish it."

The Monuments Men is now scheduled to be released during the first quarter of 2014.  This film was getting a lot of Oscar buzz, and now with it out of the running, there's an open spot.  Which movie will rise to the challenge?  How do you feel about the delay?  Comment below and let us know!