James' Movie Blog

  The world of fantasy is a great opportunity for those wanting to explore strange new worlds of excitement and wonder. And all around the world, fantasy is being brought to us in many shapes and forms. One such place where fantasy can thrive heavily is in Japan, and within the realm of animation, fantasy know no bounds. And, there is no better example of a perfect of a fantasy film that outdoes pretty much everything else than 2001's “Spirited Away”. Which was given a proper English dub and release one year later to critical acclaim, and winning an Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Since its release, the impact that this movie has had, has been phenomenal. Many people and critics have praised this movie left and right, and, honestly, what else is there to say that hasn't been said already? It's amazing. “Spirited Away” is clearly one of those movies that needs to be seen to be believed. Not just on an animation level, not just on a fantasy viewpoint, but as a movie in gener...

  True love. It's common fact that that particular statement has been around for quite some time. And nowhere is this quote more hilariously spoken than in 1987's “The Princess Bride”, a movie that blends together both comedy and fantasy all at the same time. While not a huge hit upon release, the film has certainly gained a following. And rightfully so. Mostly due to how funny it is. Directed by Rob Reiner, with a script by William Goldman based off his book, the movie has endured and enthralled audiences for nearly 35 years. There are some minor problems present, but the overall experience is more than worth the price of admission. “The Princess Bride” is an engaging and captivating film that pokes fun at the concept of a fairy tale. The story has a grandfather (Peter Falk) proceeding to tell his grandson (Fred Savage) a story. In said story, a woman named Buttercup (Robin Wright) falls desperately in love with a man named Westley (Cary Elwes). However, he goes missing, and ...

  The 1980s were full of silly action movies that provided great fun and provided lots of entertainment that made audiences did not care what they were seeing as long as they were being entertained. It's mindless fun and entertainment. Some examples include “Rambo: First Blood Part II”, “Commando”, and “Die Hard” which were all great action flicks that defined the 1980s with energy. But there are some action movies from this time period that stick out like a sore thumb. And “Above the Law” from 1988 is no exception. This film basically shows you how to NOT make a good action film, but at same time you have to admire it for being stupid. And of course, launching the career of Steven Seagal. The movie stars Steven Seagal as Nico Toscani, a cop who used to work for the CIA and now works for the Chicago Police Department. He's rough and tough, but Nico has a dark side that does not want to get let out. One day, Nico stumbles upon a plot that involves terrorists from assassinating ...

  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,...

  When it comes to DC superheroes, a lot of people mostly go for either the characters of Batman or Superman. And that is totally relatable, as both Batman and Superman are very popular characters. But lately, mostly thanks to this film, the character of Wonder Woman has seen a resurgence in popular culture. The movie from 2017 took practically everyone by storm. And considering what happened that year in entertainment, it's safe to say that Wonder Woman was at the top of everyone's radar that year. However, that doesn't mean that there are problems with the film in general. Mostly concerning the story and some of the characters, especially concerning the villain o the movie. Yet, the movie is still fun to watch. “Wonder Woman” is a very exciting and engaging thrill ride from beginning to end, and proof that DC can make characters popular once more. The story involves Diana (Gal Gadot), an Amazonian warrior living on an island filled with women. One day, Diana rescues Stev...

  This right here, is a rather silly movie. With 2004's “Team America: World Police”, we not only get a very different side to both Matt Stone and Trey Parker, but also a different side to how movies are made. And what we get is a rather hilarious and funny satire on politics and the world at the time, in one of the most ingenious ways possible. That does, however, deviate the film's legacy a bit, as well as some of the story elements being easy to predict. But that doesn't mean the entire film is entertaining. From beginning to end, the movie is thrill ride of excitement and humor. “Team America: World Police” might not be for everyone, but it is a hilarious comedy poking fun at a time when things were not so harmful. And it all involves puppets. The story revolves around a team of elite forces: Gary, Joe, Chris, Lisa and Sarah. Their mission is to stop terrorists from destroying the world by launching weapons of mass destruction. Now, using their intelligence, the team m...

  Let me take you back to the 1980s. Where movies arguably at the peak of their prime, and a lot of franchises were initially born. Films like “Ghostbusters”, “Beverly Hills Cop”, “The Terminator”, and so much more were created, it would make the decade already memorable. One of these movies that came out, was 1987's “RoboCop”, directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner. When it was released, it became a massive hit, spawning off numerous merchandise and future installments. Yet, everyone remembers it for the amazing special effects as well as pushing the rating system to its limits. While there are some minor issues present, “RoboCop” surprisingly holds up. Despite its primitive status, “RoboCop” is enjoyably even all these years later. “RoboCop” might not have been the first of its kind, but it does put a lot of social commentary that is effective to this day. The story follows good cop Alex Murphy (Peter Weller) who gets accidentally killed on t...