Okay, so over the past two weeks or so, I've managed to see all 3 of the new big animated features that have recently come to Australia, mainly because there is nothing else at the cinema (at least the cinema closest to me) that I want to see. So, I've stuck to animation, because at least the visuals should be nice, and at least the jokes might be funny. Instead of giving these films their own reviews, I've bundled them together in the hopes of comparing for my own weird pleasure. Anyway, I just want to say firstly that all of these films are quite good. Really good, actually. Maybe even great. But let's get into them each individually, starting with Pixar's latest.
Monsters University is a prequel to quite possibly my favourite Pixar film ever, Monsters Inc. In this enstalment, we get to see how Mike (Billy Crystal) and Sulley (John Goodman) met at university. After both of them being kicked out of the Scarer Program at the university, they team up together to try and win the Scare Games, along with the underdog fraternity Oozma Kappa. There are other things that happen, of course, but I don't really want to spoil it, because I alway find that Pixar films work better when you just know the basic premise, then you can discover all the messages and meanings for yourself as you watch it.
Okay, I'm gonna say this now. When I first heard that they were making a prequel to Monsters Inc., my first reaction was "Oh crap." I thought it was unnecessary to make anything else to do with that universe, especially since the original film came out over ten years ago. And you know what, after seeing it, I still think it is unnecessary. That doesn't mean I think this is a bad film, far from it, but the ending to Monsters Inc. is for me one of those endings where you don't need anything else. The film was resolved perfectly, and for me, this prequel is just a way to cash in on a franchise. But like I said, that doesn't mean I don't think this is a bad film, and I did enjoy watching it. I just don't think it needed to be made.
Well, now that that's out of the way, what makes this film good? The same thing that held the first film together, the relationship between Mike and Sulley. It is nice to watch them build up their friendship and get to know each other in a fairly believable way, and the other characters in the Oozma Kappa fraternity are all interesting in their own way, especially the designs. But Mike and Sulley really steal the show, especially in the last 20 minutes or so of the film. In fact, the last 20 minutes of the film saved it for me. Up until then, the plot was essentially your typical underdog sports movie type plot, and the end happened and everything changed. I'm not saying what happened, but it is almost as good as the ending in the first one. Almost.
So, if I had one complaint, it would be that Randall's character doesn't get enough screen time. It's pretty much just tagged on as an after thought, which leaves his character really thin. The other thing is that animation is very childish. There are a lot of primary colours used, whereas the first one was more natural looking and dark, but that's just me being a nitpick. The actual animation on the characters is superb as always, I just don't like the colour scheme. Randy Newman returns to do the score, and it is really good this time! There are a few pieces from the first film used here and there, but there are also some really excellent new pieces that use a marching band instrumentation to bring out to university feel. It works really well.
I think that's it for Monsters University. If you liked the first one, then you will probably like this. If you love the first one, like me, then you may come out of this like me feeling a little bit... confused. Not really thinking it should exist, but liking it anyway sort of thing. But it is a good film, it's funny, the characters are great and kids will more than definitely like it.
Moving on to our next film, and I can pretty much guarantee that every kid will like something in this movie. I saw this film about 3 weeks after it had come out at the cinemas and there was not a single seat left in the house. Mind you, it was school holidays, but still. Despicable Me 2 follows the adventures of Gru (Steve Carrell), ex-villain and now proud father, as he is roped into helping the Anti Villain League, run by Silas Ramsbottom (Steve Coogan). He is given a mission to discover a villain in a shopping centre, and also a new partner, Lucy (Kristen Wiig). But that doesn't matter. The whole plot doesn't matter, and doesn't make much sense. This film is basically Minions and other people who are also doing stuff... but mainly MINIONS! They are getting their own film as well.
Yeah, if you didn't like the minions from the first film, then you won't like this film at all. There are whole segments where the plot takes a back seat because the minions are doing something funny. Whereas in the first film they comedic background noise, in this film they take over the whole thing. And to be honest, if you're willing to just sit back and have fun and let the silliness wash over you, then it's not that bad. The minions are funny, so much so that other companies are now copying them terribly (looking at you, Lorax) and even though they draw so much away from the plot, I found my self not caring too much. Basically because this isn't a serious film. It doesn't care if the plot staggers to a rather anti-climatic conclusion, it just wants it's audience to have fun. And have fun I did!
Voice acting-wise, everyone here is good. Steve Carrell is excellent again, as Gru. Kristen Wiig is fun and Lucy is probably my favourite character from the film, if only because she moves from professional to fangirly in a matter of seconds. Both Ken Jeong and Steve Coogan are underused, with there really being no point for Jeong to be in the film except as an obvious red herring. Russell Brand seems to me to be one of those actors, like Seth Rogan, who would be better off as a voice actor, if only because he seems to put more effort into his voice roles than his live action work, though unfortunately in this film his character, Dr Nefario, was sadly not in it that much.
Again, the music was also excellent, with some fun songs written Pharrell Williams, and one of them is even sung by Cee Lo Green. But the tune that steals the show is the Minions version of the YMCA. I think my friend died of laughter at the end of the film when they started singing that. The girls in this sequel aren't in it as much, but Margo (Miranda Cosgrove) does get a cute little romantic subplot that also adds to Gru's frustrations as a father. In fact, everything in this film that isn't minion related, adds to both plot and character, but since the minions are at the centre of it all they take centre stage. It's a tricky conundrum to pull off, and to the films credit, it does this very well. If you want to see something fun and not too complicated or anything, then I'd recommend this.
And finally, we move onto Epic. M.K (Amanda Seyfried) moves back in with her estranged father (Jason Sudeikis) after her mother dies. Her father is obsessed with finding the Leafmen who live in the woods near their house, and obsession that led to his wife leaving him before the events of the film. M.K at first doesn't believe him, until she is shrunk down by the Queen (Beyonce Knowles) and told to guard a pod that contains the Light of the Forest from the evil Boggans, led by Mandrake (Christoph Waltz). Helping her is the leader of the Leafmen, Ronin (Collin Farrel), a young warrior named Nod (Josh Hutcherson) and Mub and Grub (Aziz Ansari and Chris O'Dowd), a slug and snail respectively who are the caretakers of the pods.
When I first saw the trailer, I thought this was a gender-swapped Ferngully, and I'm sure a lot of other people thought that as well. There are countless films that are so similar to this, whether through style or story or design or character, it would be pointless to name them all, but some of the ones I came up with were Avatar, Arthur and the Invisibles, and The Spiderwick Chronicles. But let me tell you something, this is better than all of them. The biggest problem with this film was that it came out too late. If this had come out ten or even five years ago, then I think people wouldn't dismiss this film as easily as they are doing now, and as I did. That isn't to say it's perfect, but out of all the out-of-body/walk-in-someone-elses-shoes/shrinking-humans with a possible environmental message films that are out there (and there are more than you'd think), this one is at the top.
And I think the reason for that is because there is no real environmental message. In fact, you want the message of the movie? Watch the rainforest speech from The IT Crowd. That is the message. Everyone is connected, and relies upon and helps each other. The animation in this is also glorious, and some of the designs for the leafmen and the forest inhabitants are very beautiful. The characters are also fun, but my favourite would have to be Queen Tara, mainly because she doesn't let being in a life threatening situation ruin her day. She still has fun! And then when she is in immediate danger, she helps all her subjects as she is helping herself. And she's Queen, not Princess, fucking Queen! Oh my god, it is refreshing to not have an authority figure that is female that isn't a Princess for once.
The voice acting is generally good, with the Chris O'Down and Aziz Ansari stealing many of the scenes they're in. Pitbull makes a cameo appearance as a toad (he he), but I think the real thing that makes this film my favourite of the three (and it is my favourite, and I'll get into more detail as to why in a minute) is that it has Steve Tyler playing a glowworm named Nim Galuu. Let me repeat that. Steve Tyler, yes that Steve Tyler, play a glowworm named Nim Galuu. Nothing can beat that.
So, apart from Steve Tyler, why is this my favourite? I think it might be because, even though the story was old 20 years ago, it isn't part of an existing franchise. Yeah, it was based on a book, from the same author who wrote books that Meet the Robinsons, and The Rise of the Guardians would be based on, but it isn't a sequel or prequel. In the film world, it is an original. The story may not be new, but all the little details are, and it stands out against a world dominated by tired franchises that need to be put down (looking at you, Fast and Furious 6). So yeah, if you haven't seen any of these movies, I would recommend all of them. They all cater to different tastes, so you're bound to find something you like in one of them. I think my next blog will be a list. Not sure yet. Anyway, until next time, readers.
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