Top 3 Christmas Movies

Happy holidays, everyone! It's that time of year again, and as such, what better way to commemorate the 'most wonderful time of the year' than by looking at my top 3 Christmas movies? There isn't too much of a criterion here, other than that the movies in question must take place on Christmas Eve/Day or during the holiday season; my list will also be going in descending order, so we’ll be going from what I think is the weakest (#3) to strongest (#1) Christmas film. This is my personal opinion, so please don’t go ballistic just because an entry you hoped to see didn’t make it onto the list; in fact, if you want, feel free to list your favorite Christmas movies in the comments! With all that said, let’s get onto the countdown!

#3: It's a Wonderful Life 

Although Frank Capra's 1946 classic is considered by numerous people to be one of, if not the, greatest Christmas films of all time, and I appreciate what it contributed to cinema, I do have a reason for putting it so low on the list. While the recapping of George Bailey's life leading up to his contemplation of suicide is undoubtedly necessary, not just for viewers but also for Clarence Odbody (the angel tasked with saving George in exchange for subsequently earning his wings), on repeat viewings, the first 2/3rds can feel like a bit of a 'drag' to get through, which in turn weighs the movie down, as arguably the most memorable portion of this flick has to be the last 3rd (starting with Clarence's intervention all the way to the end credits). Despite this tediousness, witnessing the establishment of who George is, the lives he impacted, and what led him to consider suicide in the first place is what makes the third act of It's a Wonderful Life one of the most compelling and downright satisfying (starting when George is finally returned to his reality) endings in cinema. It's A Wonderful Life definitely earns its place as one of the 'greats' of cinema, but the slow pacing that accompanies the buildup it takes to get to the movie's legendary climax it what keeps this flick from ranking further up on my list.

#2: Home Alone

How could I not put this beloved Christmas comedy on the list? Home Alone benefits from solid directing courtesy of Chris Columbus (who would go on to direct the first two installments in the Harry Potter film series), well-executed humor, and a talented cast which includes the likes of Macauley Culkin, Catherine O'Hara, the late John Candy, as well as Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern. With all this going for it, what prevents Home Alone from landing the top spot on my list? This movie, like It's a Wonderful Life before it, is held back by how the climax, where Kevin McCallister defends his family home from the 'Wet Bandits' Harry and Marv, is easily the most memorable (thanks to the numerous creative traps our hero sets up) part of the film, which makes the path to get there something of a grind. What places Home Alone above It's a Wonderful Life, however, is its unique and noteworthy script, which was penned by the late great John Hughes (who also served as this movie's producer). Hughes sprinkles enough moments, based in action or in dialogue, that manage to stand out in their own ways (e.g., Kevin's ingenious weaponization of the fake movie Angels with Filthy Souls, the McCallister family's rush to make it to the airport before their plane leaves as a result of accidentally oversleeping, Harry and Marv's exchanges in the van they're operating out of, etc.), and therefore keeps viewers of all ages entertained and invested in what's going on. If you somehow haven't seen this comedy, I recommend giving it a watch (especially at this time of year), because John Hughes and Chris Columbus proved they make one heck of a filmmaking team with Home Alone!

Before we get to my pick for #1, here's an honorable mention: 

HM: How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)

Let's just say, there's a good reason this animated film is regularly put on at Christmastime! This TV adaptation of the renowned Dr. Suess book of the same name almost effortlessly captures the spirit of its source material, which is helped by the fact that Dr. Suess himself penned the screenplay and provided the lyrics for the songs heard throughout the special! Even though Suess' contributions are certainly worth praising, what really helps this animated retelling of How the Grinch Stole Christmas! shine is having the legendary Chuck Jones as the director. Jones brought his experience from directing various Looney Tunes shorts to this project, and his signature style is on full display, especially in regard to the humor, with most of it coming from visual gags that blend surprisingly well with the world originated by Dr. Suess! Another thing to enjoy about this short film is how excellent its pacing is, as enough time is given to establish the Grinch as a character, set up the parts that'll factor into his Christmas heist (e.g., creating his Santa disguise, getting his own 'reindeer' in the form of his hapless dog Max, etc.), the heist itself (which eventually gets accompanied by the delightfully fitting, "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch", sung by Thurl Ravenscroft), and both the climax and resolution, all in a runtime of less than half an hour! Finally, the message, that the true meaning of Christmas lies in cherishing being with those you love (as demonstrated by the Whos, who still passionately sing all together despite their sudden lack of presents courtesy of the Grinch) is particularly timely in this era of rampant commercialism. What keeps this animated short as just an honorable mention, however, are two factors: its runtime of 25 minutes (which means less content overall compared to the numbered entries on this list), and how it's simply (and arguably) outclassed by the other 3 movies listed here. Despite this, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! has deservedly earned its place as a holiday classic, and undeniably warrants its high Rotten Tomatoes score of a whopping 100% 'Fresh'!

And my #1 favorite Christmas movie is:

#1: Die Hard

Now, I know what many of you are likely thinking: "What? Yes, Die Hard is extremely well-regarded, but how does it qualify as a Christmas movie?!?" Well, there are two factors to consider: firstly, this flick's events occur on Christmas Eve, with the holiday being referenced by name multiple times throughout the film as if to remind audiences of this, and second, there's not one, but two Christmas-themed songs that can be heard in the movie. First is "Christmas in Hollis" by the hip hop group Run-DMC that's heard near the beginning of the movie as our hero, John McClane, arrives at Nakatomi Plaza (the skyscraper that serves as the film's setting), and second is Vaughn Monroe's rendition of "Let it Snow" which plays over the end credits. With that out of the way, Die Hard shines thanks to its several well-executed set pieces (e.g., the various chases/shootouts with terrorists, a brutal-looking throwdown with the secondary antagonist Karl, etc.), unique premise (a New York-based cop finds himself trapped in a Los Angeles skyscraper against over a dozen terrorists who've taken hostages that include said cop's wife), and especially its terrific cast! Firstly, Bruce Willis proves himself to be a shining example of perfect casting as John McClane, as he captures the aura of an 'everyman' with little effort, and he exudes plenty of charisma in his onscreen performance, to the point that it's easy to root for McClane even before bullets start flying. And of course, Willis' excellently deadpan delivery of lines, such as his now-iconic catchphrase "Yippee-ki-yay, motherf****r", helps to make them stand out that much more. While Willis manages to carry Die Hard well enough on his own, the late great Alan Rickman easily rivals him in terms of terrific portrayals, as he brings terrorist ringleader Hans Gruber to life in such a memorable way that it's all but impossible to picture anyone else realizing him in the way Rickman does. It certainly helps that Gruber is allowed several humorous/somewhat light-hearted moments (e.g., his brief comments regarding Mr. Takagi's suit prior to the latter's untimely end) that help to balance out his more depraved actions. This prevents Gruber from coming off as a one-note antagonist like other action movie villains and makes this conniving foe yet another thing worth remembering in Die Hard! Top these two main characters and performances off with a supporting cast made up of such individuals as Reginald VelJohnson (aka Carl Winslow in the TV show Family Matters) as policeman Al Powell, Alexander Godunov as the vengeance-obsessed Karl, and De'voreaux White as John McClane's youthful and inexperienced limousine driver Argyle, and you have an admirable cast propping up an already impressive action flick! Even though it's over 3 decades old (having come out in 1988), I highly recommend checking out Die Hard; it's been considered by many to be one of the greatest action films of all time, and it certainly deserves such an honor!
 
And that does it for the list of my top 3 favorite Christmas movies! Once again, feel free to leave any thoughts you may have in the comments (whether they may be of your favorite Christmas films or otherwise), and have a merry Christmas, as well as a happy New Year!

Tropic Thunder review

Is this film up there with parody comedies like the works of Mel Brooks, or is it as much of a disaster as the in-universe movie almost turned out? Let’s find out in this review of:

 

 

Ben Stiller may be primarily known in the entertainment industry as an actor and comedian, but he’s also dabbled in directing his own cinematic works. Although he isn’t exactly on the level of comedic filmmakers such as Jim Abrahams and the Zucker brothers (who, together, directed the comedy classic Airplane!), in 2008, Stiller managed to capture lightning in a bottle with Tropic Thunder, a movie that sees a group of Hollywood actors getting a lot more than they bargained for while attempting to make a movie out of a Vietnam War veteran’s book. This film is a true comedy gem, with the humor sprinkled throughout repeatedly hitting home-run thanks to how smartly written it is. Top that off with a cast that oozes talent, and it’s safe to say audiences are in for a ride of a cinematic experience!

 

Tropic Thunder revolves around a motley group of Hollywood actors trying to make a big-budget movie adaptation of the book of Vietnam War veteran Four Leaf Tayback (brought to life by Nick Nolte). However, as the production descends into chaos (evoking the infamously troubled production of Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now, one of the war movies Tropic Thunder pokes fun at), the actors are taken deep into the remote Asian jungle as an attempt by director Damien Cockburn (portrayed by Steve Coogan) to get genuine-looking performances out of them to save the movie from being shut down. However, neither the cast nor crew making this movie-within-a-movie know the jungle they’re filming in is within the territory of the drug-manufacturing gang known as Flaming Dragon, and the danger that's detailed within the script the actors are following soon becomes far less artificial…

 

One of this movie’s major highlights has to be its cast, which consists of such names as the aforementioned Ben Stiller, Jack Black (aka Po in DreamWorks' Kung Fu Panda film series), Robert Downey Jr. (best known as Tony Stark/Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe), Jay Baruchel (aka Hiccup in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise), Danny McBride, Tom Cruise (of Mission: Impossible fame), and Reggie Lee (who’s had roles in The Fast and the Furious, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, and Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises). While the actors involved are all excellent as their respective characters, it’s both Cruise and Downey who truly stand out from the crowd. Even though he plays Les Grossman, an foul-tempered and greed-fueled film producer, Cruise nonetheless seamlessly infuses his character with enough charisma and moments of humor (such as this golden scene) that viewers will be unable to help but relish whenever Grossman is onscreen. As for Robert Downey Jr., finding someone willing to play Kirk Lazarus, an Australian method actor (in-universe) who has the audacity to do what equates to blackface in order to play an African-American character, would be a nearly impossible feat (thanks to how taboo the concept of blackface is). Despite this, Downey pulls off portraying "A dude playin' a dude disguised as another dude" so incredibly well that one would be hard-pressed to believe it’s actually him playing Lazarus! Suffice to say, Downey earned his Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, and if he didn't have to compete with the late Heath Ledger's legendary portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight, there's a strong chance Downey might've taken home the Oscar!

 

While the ensemble cast is, without a doubt, a standout feature of Tropic Thunder, they wouldn’t be nearly as enjoyable as they are without the script penned by Justin Theroux, Etan Cohen (no relation to Ethan and Joel Coen, aka the Coen Brothers) and Stiller himself. The trio’s screenplay gleefully satirizes various facets of Hollywood and the American movie industry as a whole (which is arguably best demonstrated in the fake movie trailers the film opens with that give audiences an introduction to Stiller, Black, and Downey's characters) in a way that’s shrewd without becoming too confusing for more casual viewers to follow. The humor in this script, while leaning very much on the satirical side (especially in regard to such topics as method acting and typecasting), is also not without several moments of taking full advantage of the fact that Tropic Thunder is R-rated. F-bombs and similarly vulgar language are practically rapid-fired by various cast members throughout the entire film, and despite this, the movie somehow manages to make this incessant use of such crude language work, which is testament to the tone and characterization, as well as world, that Stiller and company have created. 

 

Tropic Thunder is an incredibly entertaining comedy that succeeds thanks to its ability to cater to multiple kinds of viewers. Movie buffs are sure to get enjoyment out of this flick’s lampooning of the modern-day film industry (and the entertainment business in general), while casual viewers can get a kick out of seeing some of their favorite stars bounce off each other and exchange all kinds of vulgar language. It's truly a shame that this movie seems to have fallen under the radar in the years since its release, so consider this a strong recommendation to give it a watch!

News regarding future content

 Hey there, readers! Just wanted to give everyone a heads-up. Now that I'm finished with my college classes for the fall semester, I'll have much more time to upload new content, so keep an eye out in the near future! For my next review, I'm shaking things up a bit in that the review format will be a bit different from past reviews like those for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King or Jurassic World. I just wanted to let you all know as a bit of a disclaimer so you aren't taken by surprise come my next review. I'll see you all soon!

How to Train Your Dragon 2 review (reupload)

Does this sequel have what it takes to improve upon its 2010 predecessor, or has this DreamWorks animated film franchise already 'nuked the fridge'? Let’s find out in my review of:

I’d been eagerly waiting for the release of How to Train Your Dragon 2 (HTTYD2 for short) for quite some time, ecstatic to see what Dean DeBlois (the film’s director) and his crew could pull off with the next installment in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, especially considering the fact that DeBlois was taking inspiration from films such as Studio Ghibli's My Neighbor Totoro and Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back for this movie. I finally got to see the movie for my 16^th birthday, and it was quite the spectacle, with dazzling animation, very convincing voice acting, and rather well-thought-out writing. This is because you can tell that DeBlois put great effort into continuing the story of Hiccup and Toothless without rehashing too many elements from the first film, while at the same time expanding upon the world he created in the previous film. Without further to do, let's dive into what makes this movie a strong example of a sequel done right!

 

Story: HTTYD2 picks up 5 years after the first film, with Vikings and dragons living in harmony together on the island of Berk. Hiccup and his Night Fury Toothless discover an ice cave home to hundreds of new dragons and a mysterious Dragon Rider, which results in the pair getting caught in the schemes of the power-hungry warlord Drago Bludvist. 

Dean DeBlois did an impressive job of juggling the different subplots, such as the development of the relationship between Hiccup and Valka, as well as the testing of the friendship between Hiccup and Toothless. This can be attributed to how the relationships seem quite genuine between the characters thanks to the writing talent of Dean DeBlois as well as the great talent of the cast (especially Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, and Gerard Butler), which leads the audience to sympathize with the characters and their struggles in the film. However, one of my few gripes with the plot is that I think Valka could’ve played a bigger role in the movie’s finale, especially the ending scene. I feel as though the least DeBlois could’ve done was have Valka & her dragon Cloudjumper perched on the left side of Hiccup and Toothless in the film’s final shot (I say left side since Astrid and her dragon Stormfly were on Hiccup & Toothless’ right side). I feel as though this change would make the final scene of HTTYD2 more satisfying, as the most important characters would be together in the same shot. Nonetheless, the story arc about Hiccup growing to accept the responsibility of being chief of Berk is very well executed. Though Hiccup is initially reluctant to take up this role, a shocking turn of events that unfolds 2/3rds into the movie prompts the young dragon rider to accept his responsibility, and thus the story ends quite satisfactorily for our heroes. 

Cast: Jay Baruchel gives an admirable vocal performance as a now 20-year-old Hiccup and, in spite of the 5-year gap (in the movie chronology), Baruchel still imbues the character with the same dorkiness audiences came to enjoy in the first film. This reassures viewers that, despite the year-long gap between films, this is still the same Hiccup that HTTYD fans have come to know and love. However, when the time calls for it, Baruchel proves to have what it takes to inject Hiccup with emotions such as sorrow, anger, and determination at just the right moments in the movie. In addition to Hiccup, his Night Fury Toothless also returns to the big screen for HTTYD2, and the black-scaled dragon is just as lovable here as he was in the previous film. This is seen in that Toothless has several humorous moments throughout the movie, such as when the loyal dragon recreates Hiccup’s map on the ice with a large icicle (in reference to the first film) only for it to get stuck onto Toothless’ tongue! (Warning: spoilers for finale of movie!) However, the Night Fury also has a particularly epic moment in the climax where, just when you think it’s the end for Hiccup and Toothless after the pair is encased in ice by Drago’s Bewilderbeast, Toothless blasts the ice away, and this is shown:

Toothless, after checking to ensure Hiccup is okay, then goes to town on the evil Bewilderbeast, which frees Berk’s dragons from the Bewilderbeast’s control. Toothless then leads the other dragons in finally defeating both Drago and his Bewilderbeast before the villainous pair retreat (the fate of both Drago and his Bewilderbeast is unknown) (End of spoilers). In addition to these 2 lead characters, Cate Blanchett (aka Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings trilogy) gives one of the film’s strongest performances as Hiccup’s long-lost mother Valka, who also possesses a strong connection with dragons. Blanchett delivers in her performance in that she is able to bring the vulnerability, but also the commanding presence of Valka to life, and thus makes the character a truly welcome addition to the HTTYD roster. Djimon Hounsou, (aka Korath the Pursuer in Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy) on the other hand, breathes life into the villainous Drago Bludvist. While Hounsou’s performance and character isn’t on par with, for instance, Mark Hamill as the Joker in the Batman: Arkham Asylum video games or the various shows that comprise the 'DC Animated Universe', Hounsou still manages to imbue Drago with an extremely menacing and commanding presence during the character’s time on screen. In addition, the mystery surrounding Drago’s early life and how he rose to power works to the movie’s advantage, as this makes Drago more enigmatic and, in some ways, unpredictable, as since the audience doesn’t know Drago’s backstory, it’s more difficult to determine what the one-armed barbarian is planning.

Rounding out the cast are actors and actresses such as Gerard Butler (aka King Leonidas in Zack Snyder’s 300) as Stoick the Vast, America Ferrera as Astrid Hofferson (Hiccup’s now-official girlfriend), and Kit Harrington (aka Jon Snow in the hit TV series Game of Thrones) as the ex-dragon trapper Eret. 

 

Music: While not as surprisingly spectacular as its predecessor, John Powell (returning as composer following his Oscar-nominated work on the first film) still knows how to deliver a grand musical score. For example, in the action sequence where it’s our heroes vs. the army of Drago Bludvist, certain parts of the music from the first film are reprised, but with new twists that are very beneficial for this movie’s soundtrack. In addition, the artist known as Jonsi (who also contributed the song Sticks and Stones to the soundtrack of the previous film) collaborated with Powell in the creation of the song Where No One Goes, which is sung towards the beginning of the movie when audiences are reintroduced to Hiccup and Toothless, as well as in both the ending scene of the movie and the credits. From my perspective, the best part of the song is when the singing temporarily cuts out and an instrument-played version of the franchise's theme music is heard. This part of the song does a great job at reminding viewers that while this film’s story is new, the world that they loved from the previous film has returned, albeit larger and better. Where No One Goes and the standard film score are both great to listen to, and thus I think it’s safe to say that John Powell is certainly due for his Academy Award for Best Original Score!

 

Action/Animation: The action as well as animation in HTTYD 2 is another aspect of this movie that’s a monumental improvement over the previous film. From an opening “Dragon Race” to the many flying sequences to a spectacular battle outside of the massive Arctic dragon nest to a final confrontation between Toothless and Drago's Bewilderbeast, this movie has it all! However, I think that the duels between the good and evil Bewilderbeasts as well as between Stoick and Drago could’ve been a bit longer (e.g., a minute or two), as this change would’ve added a lot to the overall action sequence that’s taking place at that time in the movie. Despite this, the animation is truly something to behold, as the detail put into human & dragon characters alike is top-notch, thanks in part to new advancements in computer animation, but also in part to the animators' attention to detail. This can be seen in the following photo of Astrid in the middle of a "Dragon Race" at the beginning of the film:

This amount of detail put into, for instance, the fur shoulder clothing and hair is quite impressive, especially considering that HTTYD 2 is a 3D-animated film. Another form of animation that has improved since the previous HTTYD film is the facial expressions of characters, with perhaps the best example of this innovation being the scene where Hiccup turns on Toothless in a fit of despair after an alarming change of events during the middle of the film. The work that the animators put into Toothless’ looks of confusion and heartbrokenness make the scene that much more of an (emotional) stab in the heart for viewers, as shown below:

This really shows how advanced animation techniques have become over the years, particularly techniques in computer animation.

In general, How to Train Your Dragon 2 is by far one of the best animated films of 2014, as it’s a movie that will entertain not only kids, but adult viewers as well, with its smart writing, entertaining cast, and dazzling animation and action. It’s truly a film for all ages that’s just as good as its 2010 predecessor, if not better! With that being said, I’m proud to give How to Train Your Dragon 2 an overall score of 9 Night Furies out of 10!