... Man, i haven't doing a movie, since i took a hiatus for like, one in a half month after my Sausage Party review. I guess im in a mood to review some past films... Hmm... I wonder what film that i pick when i was a young teenager or something... Well, i guess il pick one that i remembered that is a cult favorite. Even though today is Canadian Thanksgiving. But... Meh, why not.
Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to Movie review. Well, its been a months that i took a hiatus for my decision of films that come out this year. But i felt like to going back in time to review some films that we love, some are my personal fav that we love, some that is underrated and some that are guilty pleasure. So today's movie review, im talking about one film that was a cult favorite for my childhood, and for the basketball.
Space Jam is a 1996 live-action/animated film that was directed Joe Pytka, produced by Ivan Reitman, Joe Medjuck and Daniel Goldberg, and written by
Leo Benvenuti and three mores of them. This film is a big deal to have a crossover film with Looney Tunes and Basketball with the legendary player Michael Jordan. Not only himself, but also other players appeared in the film with five basketball players.
When the movie came out, it received a bellow average movie, saying that it was a good concept, but not as interesting for our fav stars. Despite the critics, it was picked from the Academy Award in 1997. Pretty ironic for picking a film to considering it as a Guilty Pleasure.
so, with all said, will this movie holds to this day four our favorite cartoon, or is it overshadowed by "Looney Tunes back in action"? (Yeah, il get to that later after the review to do my small thought.)
Lets find out.
The story
It begins in the 80's where Michael Jordan came in with Chicago Bulls and became a star of NBA history. Until he announced his retirement to join in Baseball in 1993. Meanwhile, an intergalactic amusement park planet called "Moron Mountain" owned by Mr. Swackhammer, who wants to taking over the entertainment, mainly Looney Tunes, he sends his minions called "The Nerdlucks" deal them by playing basketball. And of course, The Nerdlucks secretly going to the real world to stealing five players talent, which resulting a scandal for their low performance. Once they steal their talent, they turn themselves into a big beast known as "The Monstars". Because of that, our star of Looney Tunes, Bugs Bunny have a plan to find a hero of basketball, that is Michael Jordan by sucking him into a hole while playing Golf. So its up to Michael and his Looney pals to save the world from The Monstars's challenge.
Though i have to admit, it was pretty creative concept of the story. Even though its an alternate storyline of Michael Jordan, which im ok for that, despite that im not a "Die-Hard" fan of Basketball games, which im more into Hockey, Football, Tennis, Soccer, wrestling and even racing cars like Formula 1. (Just saying.) Not to mention, the movie has a subplot with five players in embarrassment for their low-level of their talent, which i don't know why it shows them for minutes. Well it didn't happen until the end. Since this is a Looney Tunes film, there's a gags in the film. And it was above average, some that i did laugh and some that its more likely "Meh". But other times, it gets a bit immature for the gag. Though the story was interesting, but some that has a lackluster.
The production
This movie was developed with 80 million dollars of budget and have to admit, it looks great, since its a live-action/animation. Its pretty obvious that it was done with green/blue screen when Michael Jordan, Wayne Knight and Bill Murray (Spoiler!) are in the Looney Tunes world. The animation is... Well, what do you expect that this is Warner Bros films with Looney Tunes. Even though it was done with high quality for the character design, which im ok for that. The background looks amazing that its almost like a painting background of cartoon. Sometimes it can be cheaply bad, like the scene where Stan turned turned into a balloon in awkward CGI. Not much else to say, the production looks nice, but sometimes it might be bad for the gimmick.
The characters
Now most of characters are always have fun. Even though there's some that i don't like.
First is Michael Jordan himself, yeah i know that lotta people didn't like him in the movie, because he's not a professional actor, i understand, because its no wonder how we love Michael Jordan. I mean its pretty obvious that in the movie, Michael Jordan is being.... Well, Michael Jordan. Even though he did a nice work, but as professional as i said before. And hey, at least he's not as bad than... Shaquille O'Neal...!!
Nest is Stan Podolak,played by Wayne Knight (aka Dennis Nedry from Jurassic Park), this guy is easily the weakest of the movie. He's portray as man who not only like a fan, but also publicist to keep an eye on Jordan. He's pretty much useless and being a pushover in the film. But hey, at least he's not as annoying as Al from Toy Story 2.
Now most actors are playing as fictional character, but in the film, they play themselves like Bill Murray (aka Peter Venkman from Ghostbusters), Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Shawn Bradley, Larry Johnson and Muggsy Bogues. It may sounds good on concept, but if only there's a fictional players who got lost the sports skills.
And finally is the cartoon characters. If you've seen Looney Tunes, you're all familiar with those classic characters, Bugs Bunny is a mischievous trickster, Daffy Duck is a raging rival, Tweety Bird is fun little bird, Elmer Fudd is the hunter, Porky is a clumsy pig, Sylvester is an hungry bird as a cat, Tasmanian Devil is one scary killing machine, Wile E Coyote is failing hunter, Road Runner is the fastest one and whole lot more in the list.
But in this movie, they introduced a new character to have a love interest, that is Lola Bunny (Voiced by Kath Soucie), she's a skilled of basketball and she's one cute dol-- I mean bunny. Well yes, i know there's a subplot that she is going to be in relationship with Bugs, even though it was short. And she's rather underrated. I personally like her early look, unlike her later one in "The Looney Tunes show" that not only her voice doesn't fit (Mainly Kristen Wiig), but her personality is just generically as a girl who always, always have crush on bugs. So, sorry, i prefer her old appearance.
As for the villains, well, they're pretty cool and damn creepy.
The Monstars (aka The Nredlucks), these guys looks pretty badass and creepy. Not to mention, some of them are funny that i laugh, especially the blue one name "Blanko". In fact, they could make show about them. I wonder if they'll come back for their cartoon basketball show.
As for the main villain Mr. Swackhammer? He's rather ok. He's much as an evil boss wants to taking over the world like Looney Tunes, because of his failing amusement park planet. Although his design looks creepy, but remind me some other evil cartoon boss.
The characters in the movie are some that are likable to watch, but others isn't worth to enjoy.
And now for my final opinion of this film.
Overall, Space Jam is the film is probably a big fat guilty pleasure for the fans like me. The story is interesting, the production looks good, the animation is great, the acting is rather good, the writing is also interesting and the characters are more than above average. Even though some people seemed to hate this movie (Including Nostalgia Critic), because of a bad random concept or even lack of acting of real life stars. But many people like me love this, because of creative crossover of live-action/animation and fun characters. But come on, its a 90's movie.
If you're a fan of Looney Tunes or Basketball, this one is for you. If not, well, i probably let you guys stick to "The Bugs Bunny show" or any other show with shorts.
So, il rate this movie 8.5/10.
And btw, you're probably wondering about my small thoughts of "Looney Tunes back in action"? Personally, i don't think its an interesting movie that could've been fun. So no, i don't think il watch it after looked at the trailer or even a small clip. Sorry Joe Dante.
So this ends of my review, if you have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at the comments bellow.
And don't worry, maybe il coming back to do more review. So thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.
Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to Movie review. Well, its been a months that i took a hiatus for my decision of films that come out this year. But i felt like to going back in time to review some films that we love, some are my personal fav that we love, some that is underrated and some that are guilty pleasure. So today's movie review, im talking about one film that was a cult favorite for my childhood, and for the basketball.
Space Jam is a 1996 live-action/animated film that was directed Joe Pytka, produced by Ivan Reitman, Joe Medjuck and Daniel Goldberg, and written by
Leo Benvenuti and three mores of them. This film is a big deal to have a crossover film with Looney Tunes and Basketball with the legendary player Michael Jordan. Not only himself, but also other players appeared in the film with five basketball players.
When the movie came out, it received a bellow average movie, saying that it was a good concept, but not as interesting for our fav stars. Despite the critics, it was picked from the Academy Award in 1997. Pretty ironic for picking a film to considering it as a Guilty Pleasure.
so, with all said, will this movie holds to this day four our favorite cartoon, or is it overshadowed by "Looney Tunes back in action"? (Yeah, il get to that later after the review to do my small thought.)
Lets find out.
The story
It begins in the 80's where Michael Jordan came in with Chicago Bulls and became a star of NBA history. Until he announced his retirement to join in Baseball in 1993. Meanwhile, an intergalactic amusement park planet called "Moron Mountain" owned by Mr. Swackhammer, who wants to taking over the entertainment, mainly Looney Tunes, he sends his minions called "The Nerdlucks" deal them by playing basketball. And of course, The Nerdlucks secretly going to the real world to stealing five players talent, which resulting a scandal for their low performance. Once they steal their talent, they turn themselves into a big beast known as "The Monstars". Because of that, our star of Looney Tunes, Bugs Bunny have a plan to find a hero of basketball, that is Michael Jordan by sucking him into a hole while playing Golf. So its up to Michael and his Looney pals to save the world from The Monstars's challenge.
Though i have to admit, it was pretty creative concept of the story. Even though its an alternate storyline of Michael Jordan, which im ok for that, despite that im not a "Die-Hard" fan of Basketball games, which im more into Hockey, Football, Tennis, Soccer, wrestling and even racing cars like Formula 1. (Just saying.) Not to mention, the movie has a subplot with five players in embarrassment for their low-level of their talent, which i don't know why it shows them for minutes. Well it didn't happen until the end. Since this is a Looney Tunes film, there's a gags in the film. And it was above average, some that i did laugh and some that its more likely "Meh". But other times, it gets a bit immature for the gag. Though the story was interesting, but some that has a lackluster.
The production
This movie was developed with 80 million dollars of budget and have to admit, it looks great, since its a live-action/animation. Its pretty obvious that it was done with green/blue screen when Michael Jordan, Wayne Knight and Bill Murray (Spoiler!) are in the Looney Tunes world. The animation is... Well, what do you expect that this is Warner Bros films with Looney Tunes. Even though it was done with high quality for the character design, which im ok for that. The background looks amazing that its almost like a painting background of cartoon. Sometimes it can be cheaply bad, like the scene where Stan turned turned into a balloon in awkward CGI. Not much else to say, the production looks nice, but sometimes it might be bad for the gimmick.
The characters
Now most of characters are always have fun. Even though there's some that i don't like.
First is Michael Jordan himself, yeah i know that lotta people didn't like him in the movie, because he's not a professional actor, i understand, because its no wonder how we love Michael Jordan. I mean its pretty obvious that in the movie, Michael Jordan is being.... Well, Michael Jordan. Even though he did a nice work, but as professional as i said before. And hey, at least he's not as bad than... Shaquille O'Neal...!!
Nest is Stan Podolak,played by Wayne Knight (aka Dennis Nedry from Jurassic Park), this guy is easily the weakest of the movie. He's portray as man who not only like a fan, but also publicist to keep an eye on Jordan. He's pretty much useless and being a pushover in the film. But hey, at least he's not as annoying as Al from Toy Story 2.
Now most actors are playing as fictional character, but in the film, they play themselves like Bill Murray (aka Peter Venkman from Ghostbusters), Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Shawn Bradley, Larry Johnson and Muggsy Bogues. It may sounds good on concept, but if only there's a fictional players who got lost the sports skills.
And finally is the cartoon characters. If you've seen Looney Tunes, you're all familiar with those classic characters, Bugs Bunny is a mischievous trickster, Daffy Duck is a raging rival, Tweety Bird is fun little bird, Elmer Fudd is the hunter, Porky is a clumsy pig, Sylvester is an hungry bird as a cat, Tasmanian Devil is one scary killing machine, Wile E Coyote is failing hunter, Road Runner is the fastest one and whole lot more in the list.
But in this movie, they introduced a new character to have a love interest, that is Lola Bunny (Voiced by Kath Soucie), she's a skilled of basketball and she's one cute dol-- I mean bunny. Well yes, i know there's a subplot that she is going to be in relationship with Bugs, even though it was short. And she's rather underrated. I personally like her early look, unlike her later one in "The Looney Tunes show" that not only her voice doesn't fit (Mainly Kristen Wiig), but her personality is just generically as a girl who always, always have crush on bugs. So, sorry, i prefer her old appearance.
As for the villains, well, they're pretty cool and damn creepy.
The Monstars (aka The Nredlucks), these guys looks pretty badass and creepy. Not to mention, some of them are funny that i laugh, especially the blue one name "Blanko". In fact, they could make show about them. I wonder if they'll come back for their cartoon basketball show.
As for the main villain Mr. Swackhammer? He's rather ok. He's much as an evil boss wants to taking over the world like Looney Tunes, because of his failing amusement park planet. Although his design looks creepy, but remind me some other evil cartoon boss.
The characters in the movie are some that are likable to watch, but others isn't worth to enjoy.
And now for my final opinion of this film.
Overall, Space Jam is the film is probably a big fat guilty pleasure for the fans like me. The story is interesting, the production looks good, the animation is great, the acting is rather good, the writing is also interesting and the characters are more than above average. Even though some people seemed to hate this movie (Including Nostalgia Critic), because of a bad random concept or even lack of acting of real life stars. But many people like me love this, because of creative crossover of live-action/animation and fun characters. But come on, its a 90's movie.
If you're a fan of Looney Tunes or Basketball, this one is for you. If not, well, i probably let you guys stick to "The Bugs Bunny show" or any other show with shorts.
So, il rate this movie 8.5/10.
And btw, you're probably wondering about my small thoughts of "Looney Tunes back in action"? Personally, i don't think its an interesting movie that could've been fun. So no, i don't think il watch it after looked at the trailer or even a small clip. Sorry Joe Dante.
So this ends of my review, if you have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at the comments bellow.
And don't worry, maybe il coming back to do more review. So thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.
