James' Movie Blog

Japan has created something amazing in terms of animation. Known as anime, Japan's animation style has reflected on American culture, so much so, Hollywood has taken notice. One thing that anime has influenced is the fan base; so many people enjoy different style of anime, it's almost crazy to think that this is happening right now. One of the people that enjoys anime is James Cameron, and now he has crafted a world based off the Yukito Kishiro manga (Japanese comic book) 'Gunnm', into a feature film called “Alita: Battle Angel”. The end result is that the film is good, but not great. While the film looks nice, the story is sort of jumbled, and for those who do not know the source material, may be somewhat confused or lost in translation. “Alita: Battle Angel” is impressive enough, but without a flowing narrative, it feels like some things are better left in Japan. The story involves Dr. Dyson Ido (Christoph Waltz) living in the near future, and finding a broke...

In 2014, Warner Bros. released an animated movie based off the toy line known as Lego's. It became a huge hit, and spawned two spin-offs. Now, five years later, we finally get a sequel in the form of “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part”. And while it may not as be as groundbreaking as its predecessor, it does contain a wide assortment of humor that fans will definitely enjoy. While “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part” may live up to the first film, it does have a unique message about playing together and working together as a team. The story is set five years after the events of the first film. Emmet (Chris Pratt) is enjoying life despite the apocalypse happening. His girlfriend Lucy (Elizabeth Banks) tries to inform him that everything isn't awesome, and try to be more serious about life. That is until a mysterious being known as General Mayhem (Stephanie Beatriz) comes and takes Emmet's friends away. Now, Emmet must venture out into deep space and save his friends ...

Whenever toy companies try to turn their products into feature films, the end result is usually a disaster. Some notable examples include the Transformers and G.I. Joe toy line, and produced several unpopular films. But now, we get the Lego construction toys involvement in their own feature film simply titled “The Lego Movie”, and the end result is surprising. Yes, the movie is silly, stupid, but the overall experience is something to behold. There's something here that both amazes and astonishes the viewer every time one watches the film. There's a lot of jokes that a lot adults will get, but kids will enjoy the scenery and have a good time. “The Lego Movie” might only be for kids, but from an adult's perspective, it's something completely different. The story has a Lego man named Emmet Brickowoski (Chris Pratt), who is a construction worker within a big Lego universe made up of many other Lego people. Emmet is happy with his life as he mainly follows instruct...

Getting around is something that everybody needs to do. The most valuable and profitable source of transportation is automobiles. However, as the need for fuel supply is in high demand, the price of oil goes up, and consumers are not easily persuaded. Enter the electric car: an automobile of the future that could reduce our oil consumption by a hefty margin. So, why don't we see a lot of them on the road? There are many possible answers, as well as solutions and alternatives, that are promptly explored in the 2006 documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car?” It is a pretty shocking look at automobiles and the ways alternative energy can be obtained. But at the same time, the film is somewhat dated as there have been major strides since this film premiered. “Who Killed the Electric Car?” is a rather interesting look at how automobiles can present the new way for the future, but ultimately, consumers can not be that interested. The point that the film is trying to convey is tha...

The tale of King Arthur is one story that has been told many times in the realm of motion pictures. From interpretations for kids like 1963's “The Sword in the Stone”, to more adult evaluations like 1981's “Excalibur”. Now, we have a story about King Arthur that fits in halfway. With the recent “The Kid Who Would Be King”, director and writer Joe Cornish manages to create a unique update to the Arthurian legend, while at the same time explore the concept of being a kid fairly well. However, the film does suffer with its execution, but that does not mean the movie itself is quite entertaining. “The Kid Who Would Be King” is a fun, if flawed, and enjoyable production of a reiteration of something audiences have seen before. The story follows young Alex Elliot (Louis Ashbourne Serkis), who gets bullied and feels like he really can't stand up to himself. One night, Alex stumbles upon a construction site that surprisingly contains a sword. He pulls the sword, and is sud...

In recent years, films centering around or having the story taking place in the country/continent of Australia have dwindled. Which is sad, because there is a lot creative potential in this place. Mostly because the country/continent is full of desert and nothingness. And that's where The Rover comes into play. Directed by David Michôd ( Animal Kingdom ), the film is a post apocalyptic view of the nation starring Guy Pierce and Robert Pattinson. The movie is good on the technical aspects, yet there is one major flaw that keep it from being perfect. The Rover is an exciting visual treat for the eyes, as well as delivering an intense drama from Australia. An economic collapse of Australia has left many in an abandoned environment, mainly in the western region. One of these people is Eric (Guy Pierce), who wants to forget the past as it is too horrifying for him to take. Suddenly, a group of bandits come and steal Eric's car. Now, in a broken-down truck, Eric must get ...

The open range is any person's game. At least back in the 1800s where Manifest Destiny was the main rule of the land. Naturally, there were plenty of disputes about rules and regulations, and one of these conflicts was the Johnson County War: a short civil war in Wyoming. This account could make up for a great piece of historical fiction for a movie to be made. Instead, we got a made-for-TV movie running nearly three hours long in 2002, and is a really fictionalized account of what happened. Based off the book Riders of Judgement by Frederick Manfred, Johnson County War is a fictionalized account of what happened during that particular moment in history. The main problem is that the movie does not have focus on what's going on, and takes it time being that it is a made-for-TV movie. Johnson County War tries to tie in a historical event, but doesn't bring forth the full history that it intends. The story involves the Hammett brothers: Cain (Tom Berenger), Harry (Luke ...