James' Movie Blog

  Opposites attract; quite literally here. With the new animated film from Pixar “Elemental”, we get a variation on the romance trope by using the elements that make up our world. More specifically, fire and water. And while the final product might not be up to standards with, say other Pixar feature films, “Elemental” does do its own unique thing. It may be flawed, but “Elemental” does provide that great and exclusive charm that Pixar is best known for. The story takes place in Element City, where the four major elements converge: earth, air, water, and fire. However, water and fire do not mix, and that can create some tension. That all changes when a fire spirit named Ember (Leah Lewis) suddenly meets a water person named Wade (Mamoudou Athie). Together, both Ember and Wade find out that there are some things that each of them have in common, and can overcome prejudice that concern the two of them in the city. “Elemental” is a rather charming animated feature courtesy of Pixar...

  Pixar Animation Studios has always found creative and imaginative ways to tell a story to movie audiences everywhere. From toys that have a life of their own when we're not around, to a family of superheroes that deal with real issues, Pixar has always done something great in terms of story. But what about a love story between a pair or robots? It sounds like a silly concept but that is the case with 2008's “WALL-E”, a simple idea that became a huge hit. Unfortunately, the lesson that is bought up in the movie is pretty predictable, and to a lesser extent, somewhat preachy. Meaning that we get a lot of complicated predictions that we already know about. “WALL-E” is a remarkable little film from Pixar, but it needs a better story. Set hundreds of years in the not too distant future, the human race has heavily polluted the Earth to a point where life is uninhabitable. Enter WALL-E, a robot that can clean up trash, but he is amazed at what humans have left behind like lighters,...

Fantasy is a tricky genre to pull off. Luckily, in the realm of animation, fantasy can run wild. Which brings us to our latest animated feature from Pixar “Onward”. Combining the fantasy world with that of the modern world, this film does its job well enough to tell out a fleshed out story of two brothers wanting to use magic to bring their father back to life. While it may not have that same creative oomph that a lot of Pixar films are known for, “Onward” does manage to deliver some very impressive art with the world that it's given. “Onward” is a neat blend of ideas, and concentrates on what it means to be a brother. The story is set in a world where fantasy creatures and modern technology exist. One elf named Ian (Tom Holland) just wants to live life like every normal teenager. Ian's brother, Barley (Chris Pratt) on the other hand, enjoys role playing dice games, and is fascinated by the past. One day, Ian and Barley receive a gift from their late father: a magical ...

Pixar Animation Studios have always delivered excellent quality in terms of their movies. But at the start of the 2010's, their films have not had the same high-quality of storytelling like the studio’s previous efforts. For example, 2012's “Brave” isn't on the same caliber as say 2003's “Finding Nemo”. This all changes with the studio's 2015 film “Inside Out”, a movie that pulls in both comedy and drama at the same time. With this movie, we get a return to the great form of storytelling that Pixar is known for, as well as some great animation to boot. “Inside Out” is a great reminder that Pixar can do good films; the public just isn't aware of that factor. The plot centers on 11-year old Riley (Kaitlyn Dias) who is moving all the way from Minnesota to San Francisco. But what she doesn't know, is that her emotions are coming along for the ride. Quite literally. These include Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Fear (Bill Hader), Disgust (Mi...