Movie Review - The Secret Life of Pets

Looking for a break from finals week? Check out The Secret Life of Pets for a cute break from all that studying.  Especially if you are an animal lover this movie is and entertaining little piece with an interesting take on what pets do when we aren't around.

The movie centers around a small dog, Max, and how his life changes when his owner adopts a new dog, Duke.  Sibling rivalry is not just a issue for humans! Max is upset and jealous which causes some tension between the dogs which causes them to get lost in the city and get caught up with a gang of animals.  The movie follows their tumultuous journey through the city and getting to know one another.

I would rate this movie as a 9/10.  The character development for the movie is terrific, all of the dogs fit the breed of dog that they are.  The animation and take on animals when humans aren't around was super cute and creative,

The Secret Life of Pets  1 hr 27 mins

Movie Review - Koi... Mil Gaya

I just reviewed a movie yesterday and the post started with "Let me start by saying this movie is not what you think it is." I think I could say the same thing for Koi... Mil Gaya, but then again, I watched this movie with no clue of what to expect.

So let me start (again) by saying this movie is SOMETHING ELSE. I watched it with some friends because Netflix insisted it was a movie I needed to watch. It showed up in several lists, including the "Top Picks for Cody" list. This is surprising for me because I've never watched a Bollywood movie before, but there's a first for everything!

Because I've never seen this genre of movie, I have a hard time giving a fair review of Koi... Mil Gaya, but I will say that throughout this movie, my friends and I were thoroughly entertained, though perhaps sometimes it was for the wrong reasons. As a friend puts it, this film was filled with singing, dancing, and Scooby-Doo themed clothes." Though I doubt the Scooby-Doo clothes were intentional.

I will say this: Koi... Mil Gaya gave me a look into another culture's film with one of the most unique movie plot's that I have ever seen. If you have the time and can tolerate watching a movie in another language, give this one a shot! At the very least, you'll be entertained, and who knows, maybe you'll love it!

Koi...Mil Gaya (2003) 2 hrs 44 mins

Movie Review - Casting JonBenet

Let me start by saying this movie is not what you think it is. While this is technically a documentary about the murder of JonBenet Ramsey, this is not your typical documentary by any means. In fact, unlike many other documentaries, Casting JonBenet does not linearly tell us the story of a tragic murder, nor does it try to offer conclusions.

Like many others, I've been fascinated by the JonBenet Ramsey murder for a long time. While the crime happened in 1996, long before I ever could have remembered it, once I discovered it, I've never really been able to let it go. So I've been patiently awaiting this Netflix documentary for quite a long time. I always had my own thoughts on who committed the murder, what's happened to allow this to go unsolved to this day, and I was hoping that Casting JonBenet would offer some answers, or at least some confirmation one way or another to my theories.

It didn't give me that. Instead, Casting JonBenet gives possibly the most unique perspective on the murder that I have ever seen. It gave us a look at the lives of many actors from Colorado who have somehow been personally affected by the murder or who relate to it somehow while they auditioned for the role and acted out the many different possible schemes of the tragic night. To some extent, this definitely took some of the focus off of the victim, however, it also gave such a different view to the entire case. This allows viewers to see how a high profile murder such as this one can be relatable to so many people and how it can affect people you would never expect in a community. At times, it also forces you to think about what goes on behind closed doors when you are not looking, and reminds viewers that in reality, everything is not always as it seems.

While Casting JonBenet was not AT ALL what I was expecting, I was still captured by the creativity of it all, the stories and theories posited by the actors were raw and relatable, and the film keeps me interested in and guessing on the JonBenet murder until something else comes along. It may not give answers, but this film was absolutely entertaining.

Casting JonBenet (2017) 1 hr 20 mins

Movie Review - A Tale of Love and Darkness

This cold and dreary Sunday was a perfect day for a Netflix binge.  I found a movie I was really a fan of. A Tale of Love and Darkness which was the first movie for writer and director Natalie Portman.  The movie is based on the memories of Amos Oz who grew up in Jerusalem before the Israeli statehood Arieh.  The family moves to Palestine to escape persecution.  His mother, Fania, has a hard time adjusting to normal life after running from the terror of war.  To entertain herself and her son Amos, she would tell stories of adventure to lift both of their spirits.

Overall I thought this movie was really good,  but it is in Hebrew so subtitles are a must.  This definitely doesn't take away from the story telling.  The flashback style story telling really makes you feel for Amos and understand the story on a deeper level.   This movie is an adaptation of the international best seller written Amos Oz about his childhood in Palestine. I really enjoyed Natalie Portman as the mother and it was interesting to know this was her first written and directed work.

I was really impressed by the message she was able to convey about the impact Fania had on Amos and really showing their relationship.  I would give this movie an 8/10, overall I really enjoyed the story and how it was adapted.



A Tale of Love and Darkness 1hr 35mins

Movie Review - Kubo and the Two Strings

We're back after a bit of a break with a review of another animated movie: Kubo and the Two Strings! This movie was recently added to Netflix, so I figured I would check it out after missing it in theaters last year. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed.

Kubo stands out from other animated films because it is a stop-motion animation, meaning every frame is actually an individual photograph, with hundreds of thousands of these placed one after the other to give the illusion of motion as they move models on a set. This unique style of animation really helps this film stand out from others, especially in a world where computer graphics are becoming incredibly lifelike.

Another thing that I loved about Kubo is that not only does it have great imagery, it has a great story. While the story's twists are admittedly predictable at times, the film is still an emotional one which manages to keep my attention until the very end. Which feels like quite the accomplishment considering this is the longest stop-motion film ever released at 1 hour and 41 minutes long.

I highly recommend Kubo and the Two Strings for anyone who is looking for a heartwarming, yet emotional break from their work as we near the end of the semester. This movie certainly has a lot to offer.

Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) 1 hr and 41 mins long

Guest TV Show Review - 13 Reasons Why (Alexis Cruz)

Hi there everybody! Hope you don’t miss Cody and Bridget too much, but today I’m taking over to tell you all about the new Netflix original series, 13 Reasons Why. 13 Reasons Why was adapted from the beloved young adult novel by Jay Asher. The original story is about protagonist, Clay Jensen, who receives a box of tapes explaining the thirteen reasons why his classmate and friend, Hannah Baker, committed suicide. The series holds true to the original story while delving even deeper to explore how a suicide and situation like this affects a number of people in different ways.

As someone who read and loved the original book, I was very nervous to watch this show. With such a serious subject matter (plus being the only book I’ve ever reread on multiple occasions by my own free will) the pressure was on. Thankfully, the show did not disappoint and I finished the series feeling a number of emotions, none of which were disappointment.

While I may have a bias from already loving the book so much, I think it’s fair to say that this show will enthrall anyone who watches whether they are familiar with the book or not. The writers created an additional plot of a lawsuit against Hannah Baker’s school adding in extra tensions and giving the characters new motivations to show their true colors. While none of this was included in the original book, I think that it opens up the world and gives people the chance to see multiple characters as more than just monsters who led a girl to kill herself, but as real human beings with flaws and feelings.

The show touches on a number of very important issues such as sexual assault, mental illness, and suicide. While a lot of shows may shy away from portraying these subjects, 13 Reasons Why takes a raw and honest approach confronting each issue. Because of this, the show can be very tough to watch at times, but certainly gets its point across.

I could write so much more about how I loved the underlying meanings I interpreted from the coloring of the show, or how Clay was exactly how I pictured he would be. Rather than bore you, I’ll just recommend you go on over to Netflix and watch 13 Reasons Why for yourself!

xoxo Gossip Girl (Alexis Cruz)

13 Reasons Why (2017) 13 episodes about an hour long each

Movie Review - The Most Hated Woman in America

Welcome back everyone! I hope that this week is treating you well! This week I watched The Most Hated Woman in America, a Netflix original movie which gives an intriguing look into the true story of the life of Madalyn Murray O'Hair, infamous activist who became the head of American Atheist.

If you're concerned about the religious aspects of this movie, there's really no need. The film is mostly focused on the implications of nonconformist activism and rising to fame and fortune by being hated.

While I've found in the past that biopics tend to be dull, slow, or simply uninteresting, The Most Hated Woman in America was none of these. The movie had a truly interesting story, kept it's pace, and never lost my attention. It provided a really interesting look into Madalyn's life and moments in U.S. history that I had never considered before. One thing that impressed me with this movie is that even though it was a biopic, it didn't feel like it took huge creative liberties like so many others do.

I highly recommend this movie to anyone who is looking for an opportunity to explore the life of someone they may have never heard of, but had a rather significant impact on our everyday lives. Madalyn's entire adult life was broadcast to the masses, and yet this film is a rare opportunity for us to observe what lead to her demise, somehow so out of the public's attention.

The Most Hated Woman in America (2017) 1 hour 31 mins long