Watch or Pass: Lego Movie

Showing posts with label Lego Movie. Show all posts

Sunday, April 26, 2020

Deal: Little Women (4K) for $9.99 and other FandangoNOW deals

Right now, you can get the wonderful Little Women for $9.99 in 4K at FandangNOW. This Greta Gerwig remake was snubbed at the Oscars but is a fantastic retelling of the classic tale. Additionally, FandangoNOW has several $5 movie deals to keep you entertained during this quarantine time. Many of them (including Little Women) are Movies Anywhere and will port to your linked iTunes, Amazon, VUDU, Microsoft, and Google Play accounts.

Movies Anywhere Movies

NOT Movies Anywhere Movies

Link to all $5 movie deals.

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Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Kids-Focused Digital Movies: April 21, 2020

Here is a collection of kid-focused digital movie deals to help keep you keep your stir crazy kids entertained while you quarantine. The movies listed as Movies Anywhere will port to your linked iTunes, Amazon, Microsoft, Google Play, and VUDU accounts.

Movies Anywhere Movies:

Sunday, February 3, 2019

Review: The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part

Release date: February 8, 2019
Running time: 106 minutes
Starring: Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett

The Lego characters are back for a follow up to the surprise 2014 hit about the iconic childhood toy. The story follows the events of the first film, with the heroes encountering a powerful new adversary that causes their world to change into a decidedly less awesome and more desolate place. Can Emmett's relentless positivity survive in this harsh world? That is one of the many questions that are answered in this second movie.

As far as sequels go, this one is a decent successor. It changes enough about the first film to keep everything fresh, and introduces a host of new semi-Lego characters to change up the formula. All the main characters have returned and it introduces fun new ones to liven up the adventure. The animation is as stellar as the first, with plenty of Lego details that are lovingly thrown in. The attention to detail is insane, with oceans of legos, great modern effects "de-mastered" into lego style, and wear on the various characters that one would expect from typical rough play.

However, the movie isn't without its flaws. The story, while being a new adventure, wasn't as engaging as the first one. I found myself wondering several times why certain events were happening and when the story would move on. There is a ton of foreshadowing in the movie that also makes the plot predictable. Maybe this film just isn't as special as the first one. The first movie was such an amazing breath of fresh air, a unique animation style for an old children's toy, that perhaps this film just couldn't live up to that.

The Lego Movie 2 is a good sequel to the phenomenal first movie, but the story is easy to follow and it doesn't have the same special charm that the first film had. Only masterbuilders should see it in theaters. Everyone else should:

Rent it

Friday, July 18, 2014

What to Watch This Weekend: July 18, 2014

In Theaters: Boyhood
An ambitious project that comes together due to the dedication and care of Linklater and his amazing cast.

From Redbox: Lego Movie
One of the best animated movies I've seen in a long time, this film makes the world of Lego come alive.

Streaming (Netflix): The Master
Critically acclaimed film featuring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix, this movie tells the story of a heavy-drinking veteran who meets the founder of a new "religion."

Streaming (Amazon): Sound City
A documentary about one of the most famous recording studios that is narrated by the Foo Fighters's Dave Grohl.

Friday, February 7, 2014

What to Watch This Weekend: February 7, 2014

Looking for something to watch this weekend?

In Theaters: The Lego Movie

The directors of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and 21 Jump Street return by bringing the popular Lego construction blocks comes to the big screen. Like Cloudy, its creatively and beautifully animated. Like Jump Street, it's clever and funny. Sounds like a crowd-pleaser for the entire family.

On DVD: Dallas Buyers Club

Matthew McConaughey continues to prove that he's more than a sex symbol in the role of Ron Woodroof, a homophobic Texan whose life is turned upside down by a positive HIV diagnosis. Seeking alternatives after becoming frustrated with the standard HIV treatment of the 80's, enterprising Ron realizes that FDA-unapproved drugs present a lucrative business opportunity. Jared Leto also steps out of his comfort zone in the role of a transgender woman who becomes involved in Ron's controversial business.

On DVD: The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete

Left to fend for themselves in the Brooklyn projects, a streetwise thirteen-year-old African-American teen and a naively innocent nine-year-old Korean form an unconventional team as they deal with rapidly depleting money and food supplies. The characters' situation and struggle feel real, if occasionally heavy-handed, and the story maintains a hopeful rather than depressing tone unlike many urban dramas.

Streaming (Netflix): The Usual Suspects

Before Bryan Singer became a blockbuster director with X-Men, he made this indie mystery widely known for its clever, twisty story. A con man (Kevin Spacey) recounts the complicated series of events that he and four other criminals (Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Baldwin, Chazz Palminteri and Kevin Pollak) encountered after being blackmailed by a notorious crime lord.

Netflix link

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Review: The Lego Movie

Release date: February 7, 2014

Running time: About 95 minutes

Starring: Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Alison Brie, Morgan Freeman
Who to see it with: Anyone with kids.

David:

If there's one toy that pretty much every kid has played with, it's Legos. The little building blocks are available in every toy store and in probably any kid's play room. Although the toys have been around forever, the brand has recently started moving into new territory, starting with a successful line of Lego-themed video games. The Lego Movie is a natural extension to the video games, a computer animated adventure through all things Lego. In the movie, an ordinary Lego man is forced to go on an extraordinary journey to save the Lego world.

The animation is beautiful and imaginative. As would be expected, the Lego theme permeates everything about the film, from the sets and environments, to the props and effects. It's amazing to see the creativity of the animators, with little touches like an entire desert with rolling hills or a vast sea that, on closer inspection, are made completely of individual blocks. It's so subtle that you don't notice it at times, but when you do it's simply amazing. The animation is also solid, although there are spots when it's too jerky for my taste. I'm not sure if that is by design to simulate how they would move in an actual Legos play session, but it's distracting. Fortunately, it's not a normal occurrence.

The story takes a lot of cues from various other Warner Brothers properties, most notably the Matrix. It is a pretty typical children's movie with a message of being happy with who you are. Lots of the lines and themes seem drawn from many other kids films, but it's not necessarily a bad theme to reinforce. The Lego license is in full effect with cameos from a variety of Lego-licensed properties including DC Comics, Lord of the Rings, and more. The plot jumps around a lot, which makes it tough to follow, but at the same time allows you to visit many different areas. The voice acting is good, with some very well known personalities lending their voices to the film. In the end, the animation is wonderful and the imaginative sets and Lego themes make up for a story I've seen many times before.

Watch it.

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