Rango

To start off, this movie took me by surprise. I remember distinctly when I first saw the trailer for Rango that I was not terribly impressed. I even said to myself, "I don't think I am going to watch that movie." But, obviously, I did. And, in truth, I'm glad I did. The only reason why I took a chance on this film was because a friend of mine recommended it to me. Hopefully I can do the same for you.

Rango is being marketed for children, and to be perfectly frank, it shouldn't. That's not saying that it's inappropriate, because it is entirely kid-friendly and appropriate for the youngsters. But the entire film is saturated with adult humor and jokes that next to zero children will get. Heck, there are even some references that may go above the heads of certain adults. With blatant references to Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas, homage to Raising Arizona, and the Sergio Leone Spaghetti Westerns, these things are clearly not meant to make the child laugh, but the parent, or young adult who takes a chance on a "kids' movie". However, the movie still have more than enough to cheesy, slap-stick, and non sequitur jokes to remind us that need reasons to laugh out loud. Take them with a grain of salt and maybe a small eye-roll, and just go with it.

Hidden-humor aside, the story is actually pretty impressive, and substancial. If you think that this is going to be a Mr. Chicken scenario where a meek and cowardly nobody gets thrust into a position of power and responsibility due to a case of misunderstanding, you would actually be wrong. I was shocked too. It's actually more along the lines of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, where there's mistaken identities, sure, but the protagonist actually embraces it, and rolls with it. It's a classic Western, sure: a town has been overrun by a villainous group, and only the law and its noble sheriff is the only hope for the poor and powerless townspeople. But there's enough new spins on the story and philosophical questions of identity to keep things interesting. The story's loaded with Western clichés, put coupled with all of the homages and valid life lessons, it has some definite merit.

Finally, I just have to give praise to the animation of this film. It was impress. I mean, really impressive.

This wasn't the greatest movie I've seen in awhile, and it certainly won't be up for next year's Best Animated Feature, but it was entertaining and better than I assumed it would be. Maybe this will have given you just enough encouragement to give it a shot.

The King's Speech

Boy, I'll tell you what, I am soooo glad that I watched this movie before the Oscars, because I could not be happier with the fact that it won.

This was a great film, and worthy of the Best Picture Academy Award. And Colin Firth. I cannot tell you how happy I am that he won his first Academy Award this year. I have been in love with Colin ever since my mom had me watch the A&E production of Pride and Prejudice. And he truly did an amazing job. He had to take on the difficult task of faking a convincing stutter, which is not as easy as it seems, and play an incredibly difficult role. It can never be easy for an actor to portray a historical figure; there is so much that you literally have to live up to. But living up to King George V, "Bertie," was something that Colin Firth managed to do, and brilliantly, I might add.

Geoffrey Rush, too, did a fantastic job in his role of Lionel Logue, who gave a man the courage and the voice of a King. Although, I will admit, I am extremely happy that Christian Bale snagged the Oscar from him, Rush was more than deserving of the Best Supporting Actor nomination. And, though she didn't receive much praise for it, I was impressed with Helena Bonham-Carter as the loyal and loving wife of Bertie, Elizabeth. She was both charming and reserved, as one imagines most of the British as being.

The only thing that makes this movie rated R is a scene in the film where Bertie and Lionel let out a violent string of curse words as to "loosen the tongue." But that's the only reason why this film was rated R. No nudity, no violence, no drugs, no disturbing images.

I loved this film because I have a slight obsession with the British monarchy. Regardless of that, the film was worth it.

It is interesting and uplifting. A true testament to what can happen when the most unlikely person steps up to the challenge. And the costumes! Oh! Those costumes!!! I am a little said that The King's Speech didn't win the award for Best Costume Design. Admittedly Alice In Wonderland did have more elaborate and creative ones, but the early 1940's fashion in King's Speech is enough to make you cry and wish that men wore suits like that more often.

The film is a long one (1hour 50 minutes), but very interesting and enjoyable. I say bravo to The King's Speech. In my opinion it was the obvious choice for winner of Best Picture for 2011.