The Boxtrolls movie is artistically outstanding, but stylistically icky

Movie Title:  The BoxTrolls

Grade:  B

In a Nutshell:  From the quirky and creepy creators of Coraline and Paranorman , this family flick has a steampunk feel to it and features the voice talents of Ben Kingsley, Toni Collette, Elle Fanning, and Jared Harris. 

Based on the book Here Be Monsters! (The Ratbridge Chronicles) by Alan Snow, this dark and dirty animation feels more like an unnerving mixture between Charles Dickens and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street for kids…if that’s your cup of murky tea.  While the animation is impressive, it’s not entirely appropriate for young children.

The clay-mation style is known as stop-motion, but this film also includes CGI, making it an interesting blend of actual objects and pixel magic.

Uplifting theme: 

• “Cheese, hats, boxes…they don’t make you.  You make yourself.” – Eggs
• Stand up and fight for yourself and what’s right.

Things I liked:

• Laika does an amazing job with depth-of-field.  There is so much to see in each screen shot.
• The 3D effect is pretty impressive, especially the fog and smoke.
• Artistically speaking, the animation was outstanding.  Stylistically, it wasn’t my favorite.

Things I didn’t like:

• There were more disgusted “ewwww’s” than charmed “ahhhh’s” from the audience.  Lots of ick moments.
• Some of the Cockney accents were hard to understand, especially in the beginning of the movie.
• The BoxTrolls sound like Gollum in Lord of the Rings.
• I don't see merchandising for this movie going very far.  Who wants to play with a creepy, dirty troll in a box?

Funny lines:

• “Do you think the BoxTrolls understand the duality of good and evil?”  - Mr. Trout
• “If you’re going to eat me, just get on with it.  I’m sure I’m delicious.” – Winnie
• “Be prepared to say bye-bye to your brie, cheerio to your cheddar.”  - Archibald Snatcher
• “We’re the exterminators of justice.  We exterminate justice.”  - Mr. Pickles
• “Curds Way? How do I get there?”  - Eggs

“Milk turns into it.”  -  Winnie   (Get it?  Curds and whey…)

• “The Briehemouth!”  - Lord Portley-Rind
• “A woman like that is like raw, bold, maybe a little stinky.”  - Lord Portley-Rind

Tips for parents:  This is a twisted version of Victorian England that includes some violence, but no profanity. You might need to explain to your kids how leeches were actually used as a medical device long ago and that some people are lactose intolerant.  The BoxTrolls gather discarded items, but they also steal.  The villain is an unhinged cross-dresser and truly evil. There is discussion in the movie about what a good father is and does.  I think young children will be both frightened and bored.

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My friend, James Dashner, just had his book The Maze Runner turned into a movie!

Movie Title:  Maze Runner

PG-13, 1 hour 54 minutes

Grade:  B+

In a Nutshell:   I’m so thrilled for my friend, James Dashner, who is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Maze Runner Series (Maze Runner) that this film is based on!  I first met him when he and I were doing a book signing at the same store.  People were lined up to meet him, of course, while I sat and twiddled my thumbs.  Ha ha  I have a hard time picturing my books being made into movies since I write non-fiction!

He and I are both members of the same author group and he is considered our resident rock star.  I’m so happy that his book was made into a movie!  That’s so unbelievably awesome!  Here is a picture of the two of us at a recent writers’ conference:

The story is a bit of a dystopian Lord of the Flies , as teenage boys try to figure out how they ended up on the edge of a killer maze and who put them there.  I haven’t had time to read the book, so I’m not sure what we might be missing in this suspenseful flick, but James said that the “tone and spirit and vision” of what he wrote in the book is totally in the movie.

Uplifting theme: 

Learning how to work for the benefit of others, these teenage boys also demonstrate courage, sacrifice, and teamwork.

Things I liked:

• As a mother of 4 sons, I thought it was funny and definitely true-to-life that the boys generally spent their evenings wrestling each other.  Ha ha
• The scary noises reminded me of the creepy alien sounds in Tom Cruise's movie The War of the Worlds .
• The movie starts fast and throws us into the action without dilly-dallying..  I always like that!
• All of the young actors did a great job, although I wish there had been time for more character development.

Things I didn’t like:

• There were some plot holes that bugged me.  I’m assuming the sequel will fill them?
• The runners wore these leathered, strappy things, but I couldn’t see what purpose they served.  They weren’t quite backpacks, so what were they for?
• They say “W.K.D. is good.”  Really?  No, I don’t want kids thinking wicked is good.
• Despite being trapped in a camping set-up, the boys are able to concoct some form of alcohol for partying at night.

Interesting lines:

• “You’re not like the others; you’re curious.”  - Alby
• “It’s not a prison; it’s a test.”  - Thomas
• “You’ll get your name in a day or two.  That’s one thing they let us keep.”  - Alby
• “You don’t get it.  We’re already dead.” – Minho

Funny lines:

• “I don’t know if he’s brave or stupid.  Whatever it is, we need more of it.”  - Minho
• (SPOILER ALERT)   “Seriously?”  - Jeff, when he sees the “Exit” sign.
• “I thought you had the chops to be a runner…until you face-planted.” – Newt

Fun Facts about James Dashner:

• He and I both graduated from BYU.  He majored in accounting, which seems like such a boring profession for such a creative guy!  He said “My heart bleeds for accountants.  I don’t miss it even in the slightest, tiniest, little bit.”  Ha ha
• James is a movie buff like me and confessed that movies like “Star Wars”, Alien , The Terminator and The Matrix influenced his writing.  It was the maze in the movie The Shining that got him thinking about writing his own novel that would feature one.
• Now that his book has been turned into a movie, he’s interested in screenwriting.  Go James!

Tips for parents:   Mild profanity, deaths, scary noises, violence.  Small children may be frightened by the “grievers” (robotic monstors that chase and kill the “gladers”).

Dolphin Tale 2 continues the sweet, simple and inspiring story for all ages

Movie Title:    Dolphin Tale 2

PG, 1 hour 47 minutes

Grade: A-

In a Nutshell:   Admit it…the first time you went to Sea World, you wanted to be a marine biologist.  I think every kid has that fantasy at least once, right?  I know I did.  

A few years ago, I checked off one of the MANY items on my Bucket List: to swim with dolphins.  It was as AWESOME as I had imagined it would be.   You’d have to look really good in a wet suit to work at a marine center like that.  Have you ever tried one on?  EESH.  Be prepared for  lowered self-esteem.

If you didn’t see the first Dolphin Tale , you’ll be able to catch up with the story quickly enough.  You’ll probably want to see the first one after you see this one. The most compelling thing about this story is that it’s really true.  It’s such an inspiring story, told in an honest, sweet, and simple way that all ages will be touched.

The audience I joined was filled with young families who clapped at the end of the movie and even wiped away a tear or two.  To learn more about the true story behind both movies, go to www.seewinter.com

Uplifting theme: 

• Young Sawyer, played by Nathan Gamble, says “We don’t know if dolphins feel the same emotions as we do: fear, sadness, joy, but it sure seems like it.”
• Sawyer learns by experience and shares at the end of the movie “Because one door closes and another opens, life is full of possibilities.”
• When trying to decide what to do, Sawyer tells others “I don’t want to look back on this and say we didn’t try.”  That’s great advice for all of us. 

Things I liked:

• The fact that the story is true is what makes it so heart-warming.  While the closing credits ran after the movie ended, the audience was treated to videos of disabled veterans and handicapped children visiting the dolphin center in real life.  The impact that Winter (the disabled dolphin) has had on so many people is so touching.  Winter’s story is one of hope and perseverance and true love.
• It seems like a lot of family movies lately are animated.  It’s refreshing to have a live-action family flick that is wholesome and appropriate for all ages.
• The movie incorporated Bethany Hamilton, the surfer girl from Kauai who survived a shark attack when she was just 13 years old.  You can learn more about her true story in the movie Soul Surfer .  She’s not the most amazing actress, but she’s certainly an inspiring role model.  She also appeared in a Cosimin ad in the rolling stock before the movie began.
• The pelican was adorable.  How did they train the cute creatures in this movie?!
• The sea turtle was even more adorable.  I checked off another item on my Bucket List a few years ago when I got to put rescued baby turtles into the ocean.  Kinda weird that it was on my Bucket List, eh?  Singing with drunk Irishmen in a pub is also on my list.
• I thought it was cute that they frequently showed the camera angle from the dolphins’ perspective during the movie.
• Someone needs to write a book featuring all of the wise things Morgan Freeman has ever said in movies over the years.  He is great at playing the sidekick sage.
• I like watching kids taking responsibility because they want to, not just because they have to.
• I respected the decision the center had to make about whether or not to keep one of the rescued dolphins to be a friend for Winter.  Their motto was "Rescue, Rehab, and Release."  It's tough to fall in love with a creature and then have to say good-bye.

Things I didn’t like:

• The beautiful ocean views reminded me that I live in the middle of the desert in Las Vegas.  Sheesh.  I used to live in gorgeous San Diego near the beach and loved every day I was there.  Hopefully life will take me back there some day.
• I wish Harry Connick Junior could have figured out a way for his character to sing in the movie.
• The movie runs a little slow and it isn’t any big surprise how it’s going to end, but it’s still an enjoyable, gentle journey.  No, it’s not a big action movie with special effects; it’s just a continuation of how the amazing true story continues to inspire. 

Interesting lines:

• Dr. Clay Haskett (Harry Connick Jr.) says “You can’t just throw two dolphins in the water together!”  Um….why not? I thought that was a pretty silly thing to say, considering that’s how they live in the ocean.
• A disabled vet visited the center to see Winter and asked “How come she’s not wearing her rig?”  Sawyer, who was giving him the tour, explained “She’s been kinda down lately.”  The wise grandpa responds “We all get that.”
• “Sometimes you just have to make a decision.” – Lorraine (played by the beautiful Ashley Judd)
• “Sometimes things have to be shaken up before they move ahead.” – Dr. McCarthy

Funny lines:

• “That’s chicks talking trash through the fence.”  - Dr. McCarthy as he listened to the two female dolphins calling to each other

Tips for parents:   This is an extremely safe movie for all ages.  (aaaah)  The movie features a cool adventure program for high school students called “Sea Semester.”  If you’d like to know more, check out www.seasemester.com  and www.sea.edu  

There is a side story of young love, but it doesn’t show anything inappropriate and is very innocent.

If you missed the first part of the story, you can catch it now:

No Good Deed is predictable, but still suspenseful

Movie Title:   No Good Deed

PG-13, 1 hour 24 minutes

Grade:  C

In a Nutshell:   He’s creepy.  She’s stupid.  It’s all very predictable, but that didn’t stop the audience I watched the movie with from screaming, cheering and clapping.  And yeah, 90% of the audience was middle-aged women who were happy to see the helpless female victim finally start to fight back and kick some bad guy butt. 

Uplifting theme:  Don’t be stupid.  Don’t open your door to strangers, especially to large, menacing men who could squash you with their finger.  On a serious note, women need to know self-defense and how to handle a firearm.

Things I liked:

• Idris Elba is excellent.  He is equally convincing as a heroic character in Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom and Thor , as he is as an escaped felon looking for psychotic revenge.
•  Even though I thought the movie was pretty cliched, I still noticed that I was chewing my gum really fast.  Despite your head knowing what’s going to happen, your heart still races.
• The beautiful Leslie Bibb plays Meg, Terri’s slutty and wise friend who offers some comic relief.
• The movie takes place in Atlanta.  I lived in a suburb near Atlanta for 15 years and loved it.  The movie would have benefited, however, from a few of those magical fireflies they have in the South.
• I wondered if this would be a remake of the 2002 Samuel L. Jackson movie No Good Deed , but it’s really not.

Things I didn’t like:

• Terri could have gotten help from other people so many times during the ordeal.  She’s supposed to be an educated District Attorney turned stay-at-home mom, but she makes some really dumb and annoying choices.
• It kind of feels like one of those Lifetime movies created for an estrogen-filled audience. 
• I have to admit that I've uttered the phrase "No good deed goes unpunished" many times in my life when I have done something kind and yet it turned around to bite me.  It happens.  Still, it's important to not become so cynical that you stop serving others.  You just have to be smart about it too.

Interesting lines:

• “I would have thought with all those brains you got, you woulda figured out what game we’re playing.”  - Colin
• “Why are you doing this?”  - Terri

“You’ll see.”   - Colin

Tips for parents:  I’m not sure why this movie is rated R because it has 2 F-bombs.  Idris Elba steps out of a shower and is naked, but because of the lighting, you don’t see anything.  The beautiful Taraji Henson wears a tank top that gets wet in a scene…

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Labor Day Chick Flick

Movie Title:    Labor Day

PG-13, 1 hour 50 minutes

Grade:  C+

In a Nutshell:  First off, I was surprised that acclaimed director Jason Reitman didn’t release this film during Labor Day   Instead, it quietly opened at the end of January 2014, receiving mixed reviews from critics.  It’s an unlikely romance that digs deep into the kinds of heartaches that last a lifetime.  Whenever Tobey Maguire narrates a movie, you feel like you’re going to hear profound lessons about life’s journey.  While sappy and belabored at times, this film invites you to experience such a journey.

Based on a book by Joyce Maynard, it feels like a The Bridges of Madison County wounded romance you would read at the end of summer.

Uplifting theme:   

• Family is what brings us the greatest joys and sorrows in life.
• It’s surprising how the smallest moments between people can impact our lives.

Things I liked:

• Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin and Gattlin Griffith were all terrific, especially considering the material they were given to work with.
• There is a unique loss and pain that comes after a miscarriage.  I’ve had several, so I could really relate to Adele’s sorrow.  A woman never forgets the baby she could have raised.  While Adele allowed herself to withdraw from the world, her reaction is not unusual for a lot of women who have experienced her sequence of trials.  Thankfully, there is more help out there nowadays for women who go through similar circumstances.  One of the books that helped heal my soul almost more than anything else was this one:

 

Things I didn’t like:

• Some of the scenes were ridiculously implausible and I found myself talking to the screen, saying things like “Oh, come on!”
• Most men won’t be able to tolerate this sugary chick-flick. 

Interesting lines:

• “A man should know how to dance.  When a man can dance, the world is his oyster.”  - Adele
• “I could feel her longing and loneliness before I had a name for it.”  - Henry Wheeler
• “The mom asks her son if his father explained sex to him.  She points out that in school they usually talk about the bodily functions of the act, but they don’t talk about the way it feels.  She said “There’s another kind of hunger.  A hunger for human touch.  A desire.  People never tell you how it feels.”  - Adele
• “There were two people who couldn’t go out into the world, so they made a world with each other.”  - Adult Henry Wheeler

Dumb lines:

*  Frankly, this needs to happen.  - Frank

Tips for parents:   While the theme is about families, this isn’t really a movie appropriate for young children.  There are a lot of sexual innuendos, but very little bad language.  If you want your kids to see it during the Labor Day weekend, use it as a kick-start to talk about "stranger danger" and how to avoid potentially dangerous situations. 

Audiences who like sappy dialogue, music, and estrogen will enjoy chick flick "If I Stay"

Movie Title:   If I Stay

PG-13, 1 hour 46 minutes

Grade:  B-

In a Nutshell:  Standard chick-flick material: too cool guy falls head-over-heels in love with a shy, misunderstood girl and says all the right romantic things, risking everything for her.  If you’re into sappy dialogue, music, and estrogen, you’ll probably enjoy this predictable teen-angst love story, based on Gayle Forman’s 2009 novel If I Stay  

Uplifting theme: 

• Teddy, Mia’s dad, teaches her “Sometimes you make choices in life and sometimes the choices make you.” 
• The movie poster condenses the theme: “Live for Love.”
• Another lesson Mia learns is from her mom who said “Life’s a big, fat, stinking mess, but that’s the beauty of it too.”
• Music is a powerful theme in the film, which is that music is powerful.

Things I liked:

• Chloe Grace Moretz is absolutely wonderful.  She was such a lovely, talented little girl in earlier movies and is getting even more so as she matures.  Her fingering on the cello looks very real, but she doesn’t play in real life.  She tried to learn for seven months, but finally gave it up.  A body double is used to play the instrument, while her head is cut into the frame later. I want her hair.
• When the movie ended abruptly, the lady sitting behind me in the theater exclaimed “Wow!”
• Mireille Enos, who plays Mia’s mother Kat, looked familiar to me, but it wasn’t until 30 minutes into the movie when I finally remembered where I had seen her before…she was Brad Pitt’s wife in the movie World War Z.  You can read my movie review of that fun action flick here.
• I loved hearing beautiful cello music.  My youngest son played the cello for 3 years in middle school, but recently announced that he is not going to continue when he starts high school this year.  Anyone want to buy a cello?  (sniff)
• The director, R.J. Cutler, uses mist and light to represent the ethereal world after this life.  There is no religious slant, other than the idea that there is another place to go after this world.

Things I didn’t like:

• Adam (Jamie Blackley) is a rising rocker who writes songs and plays in a band.  One of his “genius” songs includes the ridiculously lame lyrics “I want what you have, now give it to me.”  In real life, Jamie has played the guitar since he was 12 years old.  You’ll see him again next year in a new Woody Allen movie.
• The hospital security literally drags Adam out of Chloe’s room.  Do you really think hospital staff would be that mean and physical with someone visiting their dying loved one?  Have you ever experienced that?  I’d love to hear from you in the comment box below!
• The camera puts Chloe Grace Moretz in soft-focus a LOT.  It would make more sense if that technique were only used AFTER the car accident.

Funny lines:

• “Your closet’s terrifying”  - Mia, talking about her mom’s clothes
• “Honey, guilt and bribery are the glue that has held parents and teenagers together for generations.  Don’t fight the tradition.”  - Teddy/Dad
• “Your parents seem pretty cool.”  - Adam

“So they tell me.”   - Mia

• “She shouldn’t be scared to hang out with those guys…they’re us.”  - Kat/Mom
• “School’s out forever!”  - Denny

“Did you really quote Alice Cooper?”  Have I not taught you anything?”  - Teddy/Dad

• “There are 2 kinds of people in this world: those who like coffee and those who like frufru drinks with ridiculous names.”  - Kim (Liana Liberato)
• “If you ever turn into one of THOSE girls, I’m gonna shoot you.”  - Kim

“If I turn into one of THOSE girls, I’m gonna give you the gun.”  - Mia 

Did you notice?

• The creepy doll head decorations on the front porch of Mia’s house.
• Mia has an old record player in her room.  Her rocker parents have a huge bookshelf of old vinyls in their family room.
• Mia’s artsy/fartsy house has Christmas lights on it year round.

Inspiring lines:

• “Sacrifice – that’s what we do for the people we love.”  - Gramps  (Stacy Keach)
• “As they say, life is what happens when you’re busy making plans.”  - Mia
• “The audition was two months ago, but I can still feel it in my fingers.” – Mia

Romantic lines: 

• “You can’t hide in that rehearsal room forever.  It’s too late.  I see you.”  - Adam
• (too many to list)

Tips for parents:  Lots and lots of kissing…duh….chick flick.  There is also pre-marital sex, although you don’t see it, just some lead-in and cuddling in bed.  If your tween daughter loves this movie, she’ll be happy to learn that they are already talking about plans to film the sequel to the first book “Where She Went.”

        The first book:


If you like this movie, you’ll definitely enjoy “The Fault In Our Stars.”

The Giver asks great questions about life and free will

Movie Title:   The Giver [HD]

PG-13, 1 hour 40 minutes

Grade:  B

In a Nutshell:  If you haven’t read the best-selling young adult novel The Giver by Lois Lowry, you’ll understand the movie well enough, but also won’t know what you’re missing.  The book provides more depth than the movie, which is usually the case when literature is brought to life on the big screen.  No matter…the film’s content has a lot to offer to those who are brave enough to discuss one of life’s most important questions: which is better: forcing everyone to live in peace or allowing free agency that can threaten peace? 

Uplifting theme: 

• There must be opposition in all things.  You can’t feel complete joy unless you know sorrow.  You can’t choose good if there is no evil.
• Despite the sorrows, dangers, and ugliness in the world, life is worth living every minute.  Humanity is full of flaws, but also possesses incredible beauty.   
• One person can make a difference.

Things I liked:

• I like how the movie starts in grays, blacks and whites, but as Jonas gains knowledge, he is able to see more color.  Knowledge does, indeed, color your world.
• As a college professor and author, I liked the Community’s rule to use “precise language.”  Admittedly, I’m a Grammar Nazi.
• It’s always good to see Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Jeff Bridges in anything.
• There is some symbolism in the film that allows the viewer to dig deeper, such as using an apple to disobey one of the Community’s commandments.
• I think Brenton Thwaites does a great job of portraying Jonas, who is both thrilled and frightened by what he learns about the world.
• Cameo appearance by Taylor Swift. 
• I liked the uncertainty of the ending.  We don’t know what’s inside the house, but the exciting possibilities are endless.  Isn’t that how life is when you have choices?

Things I didn’t like:

• Katie Holmes plays a lifeless, robotic mother with bad posture.  You never see her smile once, which is, of course, appropriate for the grey existence within the Community.  It seemed inconsistent with the father’s behavior (played by Alexander Skarsgard), who laughs and shows compassion.  Even more incongruent was his ability to (SPOILER ALERT) kill one baby without feeling any emotion, while bringing home another one to save it.
• There really isn’t any humor in this film.  The only line that got a smirk out of the audience was when The Giver explains to Jonas “You’ve had a dream – a combination of fantasy, reality, emotions, and what you had for dinner.”
• It starts out feeling a lot like the recent movie Divergent.
• I hate watching any babies cry.
• (SPOILER ALERT)  The kisses between Jonas and Fiona had zero passion.  Unfortunately, there was no chemistry between actors Brenton Thwaites and Odeya Rush.
• The movie poster makes it look like Anna Kendrick is in the film, but she's not.

Insightful lines:

• “Just like music, there’s something you can’t see with your eyes…inside you.”  - The Giver
• “Listen to what’s calling from inside.”  - The Giver
• “Faith is seeing beyond.”  - Jonas
• “Memories are not just about the past – they determine our future.”   - The Giver
• “Everything is connected.  Everything is a balance.  Where there is good, there is bad.” – The Giver
• “A dwelling is not a home.  A home is more.”  - The Giver
• “The boy must hold in the pain.”  - Chief Elder
• “When people have the freedom to choose, they choose wrong every time.”  - Chief Elder
• “You have the courage.  Let me give you the strength.”  - The Giver
• “With love comes faith and hope.”  - The Giver
• “We are living a life of shadows, of echoes.” – The Giver
• “If you can’t feel, what’s the point?” - Jonas

Tips for parents:   Older children and teens will especially be able to relate to the idea of wanting to fit in and not being “too” different.  Jonas explains “I always thought I saw things differently.  I never said anything.  I didn’t want to be different.  Who would?”  Parents have a challenging task of helping their children discover their talents and and teaching them to embrace their uniqueness with confidence.  Parents should take advantage of the opportunity to sit down with their kids after this movie and discuss what qualities they think their children possess that makes them special.

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