Brave rated PG

This film was one of those pictures that had a trailer that didn't really explain what the film was about but was intriguing enough to generate interest.  It was also one of those movies, that despite the lack of details about the film, I knew I would love it.  I wasn't wrong.

This film tells of a brave Scottish princess named Merida (voiced by Kelly Macdonald) and her efforts to live her life as she will despite the expectations and restrictions that come with being a princess.  She lives with her parents Fergus (voiced by Billy Connolly),  Elinor (voiced by Emma Thompson), and her young triplet brothers.

Her father Fergus seems to be more tolerant/indulgent of Merida and her loves of riding her horse Angus and archery.  Elinor is very loving towards her daughter but she is also trying to instill in her the abilities and things that go with being a princess and that will carry over to her eventual being a queen.  In typical teenage fashion Merida only sees her mother's efforts as hampering and she is frustrated by her seeming "inability" to measure up to her mother's "demands".

Merida gets particularly angry after learning that three powerful Scottish lords are coming to present their sons as suitors to vie for Merida's hand in marriage.  At the competition Merida unintentionally embarrasses her parents and the Scottish lords and their sons during the competition.

In a fit of anger Merida causes a breach in her family.  In a reciprocal fit of anger Elinor lashes out at Merida and emotionally wounds Merida.  Merida flees into the forest and is guided by the will-o'-the-wisps to what initially appears as a solution to her problem and a way for Merida to change her fate.

After returning to the castle with the solution, Merida attempts to change her fate with unexpected and disastrous results.  With help from Elinor and her brothers and her own determination, Merida must succeed at righting the wrongs that she has committed and she must do so before the second sunrise.

This film is wonderful.  The animation is stunningly gorgeous.  This film is full of much loved British actors and actresses.  Besides the main cast there are Craig Ferguson, Kevin McKidd, Robbie Coltrane, and Julie Waters.   The story was very well written and not typical of a "Disney Princess" story but that's all the more reason to love this picture.  The characters were all lovable and relatable.  While you might not agree with their actions you at least understand where the characters are coming from.

In a time that seems rather full of sanctimonious pretentious behavior "everywhere", I love that Disney is making more of their pictures and doing it well.  It seems that it used to be that Disney was really great at animation and pretty good with story which isn't bad at all.  I just think that it is wonderful that Disney is more seamlessly addressing "real life problems" in a more realistic way than might be expected.

This film at its core deals with issues like expectations that parents can put on their children, children's inability to understand that their parents simply want the best of them partly because parents' not fully explaining to their children and also because children don't always listen to their parents, following your heart and accepting yourself despite facing opposition, etc.   I especially love that this film is a "mother-daughter" story.

I find it interesting that this film generated some controversy regarding Merida.  For some reason, some focused on the fact that Merida doesn't have a prince and in fact seems to refuse her potential suitors and twisted that to mean that Merida is a lesbian.  While there would be nothing wrong with that in my opinion, I am bothered that Merida's not wanting to be married is immediately labeled as lesbianism.

I am bothered because this is a very black and white view that does a disservice not just to the movie but to people in general.  Just because someone isn't married or isn't ready to be married or isn't interested in getting married has nothing to do with someone's sexuality and it is ridiculous and hurtful to stereotype people or films by making assumptions.

In the film itself Merida states that she feels that she is too young to be married, that she is in fact not ready to be married yet.  So it sounds to me that Merida is simply acknowledging that she is young and not ready to be married yet not that she is actually against marrying anyone much less her potential suitors.

Further Merida actually appears to be physically attracted to the large "handsome" guy who is standing in front of Wee Dingwall when Lord Dingwall is introducing his son.  She perks up and openly stares at him as Lord Dingwall is talking and immediately deflates when it is revealed that the guy that Merida is oogling is not Wee Dingwall.  Also while Merida doesn't seem to be physically attracted to her potential suitors, she is obviously receptive to the potential suitors making an effort to win her hand rather than winning her hand in a competition.

I sincerely hope that I haven't offended anyone with my views and observations.  If you were offended I apologize.

There has been talk among people that there may be a sequel to Brave.  I must say that I don't have a lot of faith at present in the execution of a sequel to Brave.  What would be the storyline?  What would be the conflict?  I frankly feel that the end of the film Brave was excellent and doesn't warrant a sequel.  I'm not particularly keen to see the three suitors of Merida trying to win her heart.  I guess time will tell.

'71 rated R for strong violence, language, and disturbing images throughout

I came across this film while flipping channels one day.  The plot sounded interesting so I watched it.  I wasn't disappointed.

In this picture, a young English soldier Gary Hook (played by Jack O'Connell) gets accidentally left behind by his unit when a riot breaks out while he is on patrol with his unit in Belfast in 1971.  After one of his fellow soldiers gets killed during the riot, Hook literally runs for his life through the streets of Belfast.  His unit quickly becomes aware of his absence and tries to find him.  As Hook tries to survive the night in Belfast he meets locals some sympathetic but mostly he is surrounded by understandably angry and resentful locals.  As the film plays out it becomes apparent that those whom he might assume are friends are in fact foes and foes may at least be helpful towards him.  Hook also finds that people who help him inevitably end up in harm's way.

The film was just excellent.  The actors were all amazing.  The story was very well written and executed.  There were quite a few twists and turns.  The tension that builds up throughout the film is intense with the audience wondering just how is this going to play out all the way to the end.  This is one of those pictures that takes off running and doesn't stop and not just because our protagonist literally runs in this picture.

The film presented food for thought in the form of an up close perspective of life in Belfast in the troubled times of the past.  Not surprisingly the locals are portrayed as people who simply want to be left alone to live in peace and are moved to violence after being pushed around.  No this doesn't excuse their actions but at least one can understand more of where they are coming from.

The cinematography of this film was brilliant.  You run right alongside Hook when he is running.  You're right there with the people who help Hook and the people who hunt Hook.  The visuals in this film are wonderfully paired with music that adds just the right touch to the feel of the movie.

I've seen this film listed as "extraordinary" and "underrated" and I very much agree with both descriptions.  If you get the chance this film is so worth watching.

The Fog (2005) rated PG-13 for violence, disturbing images, and brief sexuality

I watched this film after watching the original version of The Fog.  I had high hopes that this this movie would at least be good if not great.  I was disappointed.

Like the original version of The Fog this movie follows the story of a small town named Antonio Bay this time located on the coast of Oregon as opposed to California.  As this is a more "modern" take on the original film the event that happen in this film coincide with the unveiling of a statue celebrating the town's founders as opposed to the centennial of the founding of the town.  Elizabeth (played by Maggie Grace) is in fact a resident of Antonio Bay it's just that she has spent time living outside of the town.   Elizabeth's boyfriend Nick (played by Tom Welling) is a resident as well and owns the boat the Seagrass (just as in the original picture).

After returning to Antonio Bay, Elizabeth is inexplicably afflicted with fainting spells that manifest very inconveniently to her but  conveniently for the plot.  As a result of her fainting spells, she finds the diary of one of the founding fathers named Malone and thus finds out that Antonio Bay was started with blood money from a leper colony.

The leader of the leper colony named Blake had attempted to purchase an area near Antonio Bay for his people to live in peace.  The founding fathers were bothered by the thought of a leper colony being "so close" to Antonio Bay and so they had locked the lepers on their ship and stolen their money and possessions.  The ship wrecked off of the coast  and there were no survivors.

Elizabeth is horrified and tries to tell her boyfriend Nick about the diary.  He doesn't seem to care because he is preoccupied with strange events including mysterious deaths and an unnatural fog.  Elizabeth's fainting spells don't seem to disturb Nick in the least but that is probably because he seems to be unaware given the other events happening.

And so we have the continuation of similarities to the original film in that we have a small group of residents desperately trying to survive the night.  This picture takes a turn in Elizabeth in more ways than previously mentioned.  As it turns out she is apparently the reincarnated wife of Blake or at least that's what she believes.  Oddly enough she doesn't seem to be the least bit disturbed by this.  I should have guessed that she doesn't really care for her boyfriend as evidenced by her previously leaving Antonio Bay for about six months and her seeming negative attitude about returning until she finds out that she is Blake's reincarnated wife.  Whatever.  The film ends with her joyfully being reunited with Blake (which is great for her and Blake but what about Nick?)

All in all this film was disappointing at best.  The cast wasn't horrible but they weren't as good as the original cast.  The plot was not good.  The fainting spells plot device was annoying at best.  There were some decent special effects but nothing particularly special.  It just felt like this film missed the point of the original film.  At least there wasn't boasting that their film was so much better than the original unlike some other remakes.

The Fog (1980) rated R for violence, mild language, and horror

This film was listed on one of the lists of "scariest pictures" that I have previously referenced and so I watched it.

This movie tells of events that happen in a town in California called Antonio Bay on the 100th anniversary of the founding of Antonio Bay.  It opens with a ghost story telling of a shipwreck that happened approx 100 years ago when Antonio Bay was founded.  The film continues with strange events including a fog that seems to move against the wind.  As it turns out the fog contains evil ghosts from Antonio Bay's past that terrorize and kill some of the residents of Antonio Bay.  It falls to a small group of residents (and one person passing through) to try to hold out and survive the night of horror.

This film is one of the many great John Carpenter/Debra Hill pictures.  The story is excellent.  The actors are all great.  The special effects haven't completely stood the test of time but they are still great as far as I am concerned. If you are a horror fan, this is a classic film that really shouldn't be missed.  Just make sure that you watch this version rather than the 2005 version.

Trading Places rated R for language, content, nudity/sexuality, and drug use

I was aware of this film from the reference made to this film in Coming to America but I hadn't watched it until recently.  A friend of mine was "horrified" that I hadn't seen this film and yet I am fairly familiar with Coming to America so he put it on for me.

A young businessman named Louis Winthrope III (played by Dan Aykroyd) works for two elderly millionaire brothers named Duke and Duke (played by Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche).  While conducting business Louis bumps into Billy Ray Valentine (played by Eddie Murphy) and immediately assumes that Billy Ray is attempting to rob him of his briefcase.  Despite Billy Ray's efforts at first reassuring then walking away from Louis, Billy Ray is arrested for theft.

When the Duke brothers learn of this, they make a bet of $1 that if they "ruin" Louis thereby forcing him out of his life of luxury and into Billy Ray's "life of crime" that Louis will "give into baser instincts and go to a life of crime" and that Billy Ray will "relinquish his life of crime and better himself".  The Duke brothers then follow through with their plan and bring Billy Ray into Louis' job and home and cause Louis to end up on the streets.

After some high-jinks it seems that their bet comes true.  Unfortunately for them Billy Ray finds out about their bet and lets Louis know about it.  Thus Louis and Billy Ray plan revenge.

This film definitely isn't for children for a number of reasons.  However it is very funny.  I understand why this film is considered one of the greatest comedies of all time.  The acting was great.  The story was great.  The characters were all memorable.  I don't think that this film could be made today given some of the "dicey" aspects of this film.  There are certain things that are said and done that were allowed in films back then but in this super "pc" world it just wouldn't work.  Still a definite gem in comedy and definitely worth watching.

Oldboy (2003) rated R for language, sexual content, violence, nudity, and scenes of torture

I watched this film because it was included in a list of "scariest films".  To an extent I was warned about this film by the panel of commentators but I still watched it.

A seemingly average guy named Dae-Su Oh (played by Min-sik Choi) gets kidnapped and held prisoner in a room for 15 years without any explanation given.  He is fed and pretty well kept although he has no communication from/with anyone.  One day, he is released with money, a cell phone, and expensive clothes.  He spends the film trying to find out why he was held prisoner and by whom.  Along the way he meets a young woman named Mi-do (played by Hye-jeong Kang) who tries to help him and whom he develops a relationship with.

This film is understandably highly regarded and highly recommended by quite a few people.  It is technically a very good film.  The acting is excellent, the story is excellent, the amazing hallway fight scene is beyond words.

A word of warning though.  This film is very disturbing and definitely isn't for the faint of heart.  Its "horror", rather the reason why it was included on a list of best horror films isn't classic horror involving monsters or axe murderers.  This horror is much more psychological.  I won't spoil the horror because I do think that that would be unfair.  However, if you are that curious, I'm certain that you can research what the "twist" of this picture is and find copious spoilers.

Prom Night (1980) rated R for violence, brief nudity, language, and frightening content

I was curious about this film for some time and finally indulged in watching it after my sister purchased it.

This film opens with four kids Kelly, Jude, Wendy,  and Nick playing in an abandoned school building.  A fifth child, a little girl named Robin decides to join in their game.  The four gang up on her and corner her in front of a large window.  They get so caught up in their game that they don't realize how close Robin is to the window.  Robin gets so scared by the kids and their game that she tries to get away and ends up falling out of the window.  The four kids get scared that they will go to jail so they vow to keep what happened a secret.

Six years later it is the day of the prom.  The four kids are now high school seniors.  Robin's older sister Kim (played by Jamie Lee Curtis) is the prom queen and she is dating Nick who will be crowned prom queen.

Apparently Kelly used to date Nick but Nick broke it off with Kelly to be with Kim.  Kelly decides to win Nick back by physically separating Kim from Nick and keeping them separate by using a bully who likes Kim.

Jude is struggling with being pressured to have sex with her boyfriend.  She is receiving pressure from both her friends and her boyfriend.

Wendy is initially struggling with not having a date to the prom.

A masked person (evidently the killer in this picture) attempts to call all the four teens involved in Robin's accidental death.  The killer is able to speak to Jude and Wendy but the other two miss his calls.  The masked killer then leaves the cut up yearbook photos of the three girls in their respective lockers.

The prom begins and the killing begins culminating in the "dramatic" reveal of the killer.  The killer's identity is not surprising nowadays but I'm sure it was something of a surprise when the film was released in 1980.

All in all this film was exactly what it looks and sounds like, a typical teen slasher film.  It's not horrible it's just not great.  The best part for me was Kim's "awesome" dance sequence with  her boyfriend Nick during the prom.  It was quite entertaining.  I was further amused by how long the day was in this picture.