Epic

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_(film)

Epic lived up to its name.

This movie follows the adventures of M.K., a magically shrunken teenager who meets the miniature "Leafmen." They protect the forest from the ever encroaching rot made by the Boggans, with a plethora of side characters. The plot is a pretty standard human-meets-magical-race-and-helps-them-save-the-world story, but I felt it was anything but ordinary. 

I was immediately hooked by the amazing action sequences (SO MANY good ones), the detailed animation, the warmth to the story, and the well written characters. They were the best part really- the side characters. 

My favorite was the queen- a likable, strong character, who had a heartbreaking side story.

http://movies.about.com/od/epic/ig/Photos/Queen-Tara-Pic.htm

I love it when the side characters have great stories.

Though, the slugs came in a close second.

http://www.indiewire.com/tag/blue-sky

Look how not-disgusting these guys are!

It was an exciting roller coaster ride through a tiny, beautiful world. You should see it, and I think your kids (not too young, there are some scary characters) will LOVE it. I know I did.

I do have one complaint, though.

With a character like M.K., there was such potential to focus on a strong, female teenager, reconnecting with her estranged father through an epic journey, while learning to see the world in a different way.

http://www.kernelscorner.com/2013/03/its-raining-plenty-of-posters-from-blue.html#.UkONcIZJOAg
Kind of looked a bit cross-eyed sometimes, but otherwise a pretty cool gal.

Amanda Seyfried did an excellent job with her voice (as did many of the other voice actors). She wasn't written as a whiny girl: you empathize with her, and plus, she's tough. While the story revolves around her, the side characters get their fair share of attention too. 

Unfortunately, quite a bit of that slice of attention-pie involved this guy, a very predictable rebel-without-a-cause type.

http://www.flicks.co.nz/movie/epic/

He just kept holding onto the spotlight.

Josh Hutcherson's vocal talents in a cartoon fall slightly flat, but that wasn't the part that really disappointed me. 

Why can't a movie production company realize that an exciting story can revolve around a young heroine without there needing to be a romantic sub-plot?

http://seespeakhearmama.com/tag/brave/

Besides Pixar, of course.

Nob, the young, restless teenage boy, who just doesn't seem to fit in and must break free from the confining grip of his psuedo-father/commanding officer, is a character we've ALL seen before. 

At least Epic didn't fall into the cliche of having the love of a woman change a rouge into a prince.

http://iheartthetalkies.com/2012/04/30/film-review-beauty-and-the-beast-3d/
Darn you, Stockholm Syndrome!
I'll never watch this movie the same way again.

Anyhoo, in general, Nob isn't too annoying, and he sets Ronin, the commanding officer of the Leafmen, up for some great one-liners.

http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/review/a481466/epic-review-beyonce-stars-in-new-blue-sky-studios-animation.html
Nob, your purpose is to make me look awesome.

Nob did have some (and by some, I mean A LOT) of thrilling, spectacular, and just plain awesome action sequences. So, I will tolerate his presence in the film, though I think M.K.'s character would have been just fine without him. 

All that said, this is a minor complaint, one brought on by my little sister who notices these things. The film rocks, like watch-it-twice-in-a-row rocks. 

Well done, Epic.

PS- Thanks Corey, for making me see the light on this one.

The Call

www.call-movie.com/site/

I'm not one for "scary" movies. 

Most of them seem to be all about counting how many limbs can be chopped off and how much blood spurts out of a severed artery before a scantily clad blond dies screaming, leaving little room for actual fear, just disgust. 

I have not seen Texas Chainsaw Massacre LXVI, and no, I'm not curious enough to see this year's installment of The Devil's Omen of Paranormal Signs on Friday the 13th blah-de-blah. Not interested.

Instead, it's the movies that thrill and chill my mind that I find truly terrifying- the psychological thrillers that leave the gore off screen, because really, the monsters we imagine in our minds are always scarier. 

www.denofgeek.us/movies

Except for this guy. Pan's Labyrinth was visually freaky, man.

The Call was this kind of movie- the kind that had me on the edge of my seat, gripping the arm-rests of my couch for dear life.

There are still hand imprints on my pillows.

This level of anticipation began after a slow opening and then lasted for, oh, most of the movie, and I felt this way while watching a woman named Jordan (Halle Berry) talk on the phone to a girl named Casey (Abigail Breslin).

Keep in mind that Casey is locked in the trunk of a car, kidnapped and on her way to certain doom, and Jordan is a 911 emergency response operator, but still, it was a movie made up of two people talking on the phone. Such a simple, terrifying premise, and so, so good.

Halle Berry has had her ups and downs, and this is absolutely an up. She is convincing, not over the top, and about 20 minutes in, I stopped seeing her as a famous actress, but as an unnaturally pretty 911 operator. Kudos to her.

http://cinemasochists.blogspot.com

I almost forgive her for this. Almost. 

Abigail Breslin has always been something to see, from Signs to Little Miss Sunshine, and she doesn't disappoint in The Call. By the end, you'll be calling out "You can do it, honey! Don't give up!" just like I was.

http://blahblahblahgay.blogspot.com

No, I am not afraid to admit that I yell at the TV. A lot.

As the movie's credits scrolled up the screen, I couldn't help but feel that everything up until the ending (which was totally over-the-top) could have really happened, and probably has happened. 

Now that's creepy. 

On the plus side, this movie acts as an exciting guide on what to do (and what not to do) if you find yourself kidnapped and locked in the trunk of a car. 

Absolutely worth the rental- be prepared to hold someone close and never let your children go out alone without a cell phone.

Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers

If this image makes you think of guffawing at amazingly bad movies, then we are kindred spirits. Mystery Science Theater 3000 created a rift in time and space where it is alright to talk/provide a running commentary during movies. Anyone else who dares to speak during any other cinematic experience will surely go to the special hell. 

That reminds me of the worst date I've ever been on...but that's a tale for another time.

Here's a bit of background for the unfortunate souls who need to be educated: Mystery Science Theater 3000 takes the ridiculous premise of a guy and robots stuck in space, making fun of terrible movies they are forced to watch as part of a mind experiment, and creates comedy gold. It's a joy that must be experienced (I Accuse My Parents is an especially good episode, and MST3K: The Movie is the best. Ever.). 

I can still hear their voices, after all this time...

After MST3K was cancelled, the wisecracking kings (Kevin, Mike and Bill), unable to contain their awesome gift of gab, created a website named Rifftrax. This is movie nerd heaven. You watch a popular movie (such as Jurassic Park or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, two of my favorite Rifftrax...) on your own entertainment system, download the MP3 off the Rifftrax website and play that on your computer in tandem with the movie, and it's like having your own personal peanut gallery in your living room. A peanut gallery that makes you laugh so hard popcorn might shoot out of your nose.

These guys are the only reason I made it through all FIVE of the Twilight torture sessions.

But wait, that's not all! Rifftrax also riffs movies live, a performance which is beamed to audiences in movie theaters across the country. I was able to finally see these guys in action last month with their hilarious take on Starship Troopers. 

That is a REALLY BAD movie. The acting was bad. The 90's technology is so silly looking it's bad. The writing was bad. The storyline was bad (Ender's Game did this plot oh-so-much-better). Bad, bad, bad. Granted, the giant bug effects have held up wonderfully over time, and the idea of equality of the sexes in the future was a refreshing sight, but my goodness was this a BAD movie. Perfect fodder for Rifftrax.

The one joke I'll give away is that this smile gets made fun of. A lot.
And yes, that is a giant bug leg sticking through her shoulder.

There will be another showing of this grand event on the 12th of September, and I highly recommend it to anyone within 100 miles of a theater playing Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers. They are also doing a Halloween live recording of a riff on Night of the Living Dead on October 24th. 

My one complaint, and maybe they'll have fixed this for the second showing, is that the audio was hard to follow. At times, when both the actors of Starship Troopers and the Rifftrax guys are talking, I couldn't distinguish actual words, but that only happened a few times. Other than that, it is an experience worth the ticket price.

Find both of these in a theater near you, and you'll laugh the night away, I guarantee it.