James Beckham: Dreamworks!

So, you might remember that I am a huge fan of animated movies. Well, this week has been hectic, so I decided to catch up on animated films from my favorite animation studio, Dreamworks Animation. So, I’ll just give a little review of the films I saw and then talk a bit of my holiday schedule. Anyway, so here we go!

Rise of the Guardians

This was the first film I watched this week. I was pleasantly surprised. I am still trying to figure out how this film was a bust. I don’t generally count movies as “great,” but, this film, in my view, was “great.” The story wasn’t choppy, and it was actually a good story, the plot was good, and for once there was good character development. I was also happy that for once there was actually a formidable villain, one that you couldn’t wait until they died. It was just an absolutely wonderful film. Also, it was wonderful because it was just pure Dreamworks. Let’s be honest, Dreamwork (pardon the language) sucks at making family-friendly films. They tried with the first two Madagascar films (which weren’t all that family friendly) and then when they finally suceeded, (Madagascar 3) the movie was awful. Dreamworks is for the older audience, that’s what they are good at making, animated films for anyone that’s not a kid. This film was dark, but beautiful and perfect. That’s makes a perfect Dreamworks film. I loved it, I give it 5 stars out of 5.

Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted

This film is the definition of the word “stupid.” I mean, it was so stupid I honestly considered (and still am) considering asking dictionary makers to change the definition of “stupid” to “Madagascar 3.” In this film they replaced the charm of the first two films for jokes so stupid only a five year old boy would laugh at them. There were a few good scenes though. Namely, Alex and the gang busting the Penguins and the monkeys out of the casino in Monte Carlo. But, once they introduced the villain, things got bad fast. They gave an extremely negative view of police, which I did not like at all, and the story about the tiger was so ridiculously stupid I wanted to stop the movie and burn it. The other good scenes were the ones were the Penguins were cracking jokes and the King Julian/Sonya love scenes. Outside of that, the movie was absolutely awful. Oh, and don’t get me started on how they “swore” in the film. “Bolshevik” to use in place of “bull***t?” Really? Just stay away from that word Dreamworks, and that wasn’t the only time. I give this film 2 stars out of 5.
How to Train Your Dragon 2

I loved the first film in the series, I mean, outside of “Rise of the Guardians,” that was the best animated film I had ever seen. I didn’t expect this film to be as good as the first, but even still, I was still a bit disappointed. I felt like it was two different movies in one. There was the first hour of the film, which was rather boring, choppy, and just stupid. Then, there was the final thirty minutes which seemed completely unrelated to the first hour, and salvaged the film which otherwise would have been a wreck. The battles, the conflict between Toothless and Hiccup, and SPOILER ALERT! Stoick dies (and stunningly didn’t come back to life). That part was amazing. But first, I have so many complaints about the first hour, but I’ll narrow it down to the highlights. The awkward conversation between Hiccup and Astrid about Stoick. That was just awkward and a stupid conversation. Then, Hiccup’s utter stupidity to go meet Drago DESPITE his dad repeatedly telling him not to just got to my nerves, and let’s not forget Stoick’s friend saying to Hiccup, “This is why I never got married, and another reason.” I think we are all old enough to understand what that man was implying. I did not like that at all. The last thirty minutes, there was only thing I didn’t like, Astrid and Hiccup kissing. Kissing and/or having sex before you’re married turns me off faster than anything else, and that includes nudity, profanity, sexual innuendo, or ridiculously gory and violent films (I’m talking about you, “The Patroit”). That turned me off quite a bit. But, the last thirty minutes were still enough to give this movie a high review, and so I give it 4 stars out of 5. 

Anyway, I won’t go into “Thumb Wars,” but here’s a bit of what’s coming up this holiday season:

• Work
• Work
• Work

That’s pretty much it until Christmas day. On Christmas I’ll actually take a break from working and celebrate by watching NBA games all day (and don’t sit there acting self-righteous and outraged over my act of sacrilege, you probably do it to, so I don’t want to see angry comments in the comment section about how awful that statement is). Then the next day I’ll be packing to go to see my family in Ohio. On the 27th I’ll leave and have a Christmas party with my dad’s side of the family. The next day, I’ll go to church with my grandparents and aunts and uncles (on my mom’s side) and go straight to my mom’s parents house to have a Christmas party. Then, that night I’ll stay over at my friend’s house. The next day I’ll come back here to the Fort Wayne/Huntington, IN area. So, a busier schedule than I’m used to for Christmas, but I’m expecting to have some fun. Anyway, that’s all I got for now. Later you can expect two more blog posts, 1 for “the worst movie that came out this year,” and “the worst movies that I saw this year.”