Sunday 24 November 2019

Movie Review: Frozen II

(As Anthony opens the door, he gets punched on the face really hard that he splattered at the wall)

Anthony: Gaahhh!!

???: *enters his home and picks him*

Anthony: What... What the hell are you doing here?!

???: *approaches at him with her yellow gauntlet on her right hand* I want you to give me the stones...!

Anthony: The... What...!?

???: The Infinity Stones you little bastard! Where is it?!

Anthony: I...! I will never give you the answer!

???: Oh really? Can't you tell based on my scanner? *shows her phone as a scanner that she's in the right location*

Anthony: You kidding me...?! I wanted to keeping mine safe, but for no reason you're following it...?!

???: *drops him down, walking to his chamber to found a briefcase underneath his bed* Pleasure for your business, little brat...

Anthony: But Who are you...?!

???: *looks behind at him, revealing herself that she happens to be a Gemsona of Thanos* The name is "Rose de France Amethyst"... *walks away*

Anthony: Uuurgh...!

(Review starts)


*take a seat after being hurt, ahem* Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my movie review.

From six years ago, we remembered the one Disney animated feature film that became the fan-favorite among the community, which is "Frozen". when it came out in 2013, it was beloved from not just the critics, but the viewers and the Disney fans that many people considered as one the best Disney animated feature film or even best Disney princess film ever. For me, i remembered seeing this movie and i loved it so much for the great story, beautiful animation, fun songs (minus the trolls song, because no thank you) and lovable characters with Elsa who's easily my favorite Disney princesses, which it became a franchise with two shorts, merchandise and even fanarts (including a questionable shipping with Elsa and Jack Frost from Rise of the Guardians). But of course, thanks to its popularity, its no wonder what we have a sequel.

"Frozen II" is a 2019 animated musical fantasy film that was written/directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, produced by Peter Del Vecho, then co-written (for story) by Marc E. Smith, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.

Ever since Frozen is so popular, we always like to see more with Anna and Elsa. But of course, most people like me are asking the question, how did Elsa was born with ice power or even more location outside of Arendelle. But when the trailer came out, it got so much attention that not only it looks promising for the return, but things about to get a little bit dark, specially the truth for how did she got the power.

So, with all that said, will this movie is worth of magical sequel, or is this film isn't as cold enough for her secret truth.

Well, lets find out.

The Story
For the sequel's story, you think this is gonna be rather original along with expanded world outside of Arendelle?  Well, yes and no.

The movie begins on once again, a flashback where Anna and Elsa were young, this time, their late father King Agnarr told the story where he used to going in the Enchanted Forest with his grandfather to meet up tribe of Northuldra, so fascinating that they build a dam. But didn't work out that not only it causes the spirits of elements in chaos, but also a war that not only his grandfather was killed, but he ended up being locked up from the spirits in the forest, but he does get rescued by someone mysterious. Fast forward to present time (though it takes place three years after the first film) and during the celebration of autumn, Queen Elsa hears a mysterious voice from the north that she's searching, but resulting a chaos in Arendelle from an unexpected spirits. Its up to Elsa, her sister Anna, Olaf the snowman, Kristoff and Sven are working together to follow the voice from the Enchanted Forest to not just a whereabouts of voice, but also the secret of the fifth element.

Though it was rather an interesting to go, but im not considering a perfect story, since i find it to be rather cliche, which is all about our heroes goes to the adventure with the forest contains the spirits of elements and also the secret truth about the fifth element, i mean gee, where did we heard of it before? Don't give me wrong, it is pretty nice for expanding the world in Frozen, but its just that they couldn't avoiding from the obvious cliche. Though the movie also has a subplot that they want us to building up for the relation between Anna and Kristoff, even though it sounds like its been done  since we've seen before, but its all about the attempt of marrying, at least the relationship is more nicer than we had Hans. But of course, it also has a subplot where our heroes meets the remaining of the tribe of Northuldra and the remaining of Arendelle, which is nice to see that they're alive (most of them from the mentioned late Agnarr).
I also mention even though it has a fun and colorful tone, but it also has a dark tone with some moments that made us in goosebumps, specially the scene where our heroes are surrounded from the spirits or even Elsa's struggle to going at the mysterious land called "Ahtohallan" from the waves of water spirits called "Nokk".
Aside of the interesting tone changes, as for the humor of this movie, its pretty fun and entertaining too, although its fun from dialogue or even the image gag, though sometimes the joke is little bit risky for some use of culture reference.

Though its not the most perfect story that we expected, but its nice for expending the world, some fun humors and an interesting changing tone.


The Animation
Its pretty obvious to say that its another Disney film with another best looking animation film, which we can all agree.

For this movie, it has a nice upgrade after the previous film with new details and occasionally a new looks. The world itself that although its nice to see Arendelle again, but its pretty impressive for a new locations like Enchanted Forest, even though it looks typical, but it looks pretty good for the execution with the colors and the effects.

Speaking of the effects, man, it looks amazing from the ice powers, mist, the spirits and even the water, which im pretty sure that they wanted to make the water effects to be more and more realistic than Moana, especially for the mentioned spirits. The spirits effects are easily the best part where it goes for not just the water, but also the winds of the leaves (though somewhat similar from Pocahontas), the ground details the rise of fires with interesting colors of the flame and so much more.

As for the character designs and the animation, its pretty obvious they use the same characters look from before, but with an upgrade for our protagonists, which is pretty nice to see them again. But of course, with the new characters's design, they looks standard and good though. For the animation for their movement, its pretty much the same for move like a human being smoothly.

And of course, lets forget the musicals on this movie. The musicals are also pretty good, im sure lot of people are enjoyed the song "Reindeer(s) Are Better Than People" to "Lost in the woods", and i have to admitted, it is pretty good, its about where Kristoff is so destined to be marrying with Anna despite he likes to be in the woods with reindeer, including his best pal Sven, even though its gonna be like a male version of "Let it go", based on the popularity that most people loves it, but for me, its not my favorite.
My favorite is gonna be "Into the Unknown", this one is in my opinion, probably not only to great one, but possibly the next gen of "Let it go", this one is easily the main plot where Elsa hears the mysterious voice outside of Arendelle and wanting to know about it. Though its not just the aware about the voice, it was of course, an excellent singing performance of my favorite star Idina Menzel, plus it has surprisingly good with the artist Aurora joins in. Another favorite is "When i am older", its about where Olaf was isn't alone, but something noticing around him the forest, but in funny way, its fun and a pretty good performance with Josh Gad.
The rest of the songs are not much else to say, they're pretty good, even though it may or may not as magical as "Let it go", but hey, thats life.

As always, the animation is outstanding for its presentation, the effects, the design and even the musicals.


The Characters
Im sure lot of you guys are familiar with our protagonists from the first Frozen. If not when you're, allow me to present them if you wanna know.

First is easily my favorite princess/queen, Elsa (voiced by Idina Menzel), when it comes to Disney Princesses, i like several of them like Ariel, Jasmine, Belle, Snow White or even Moana. But none can top than Elsa. She's calm, reserved, elegant and other times playful. Even though sometimes she's feared if it doesn't going on the way, specially if Anna is in danger or even risking herself from her power. In this sequel, despite aware the mysterious voice, she's up to herself to find out about not just the voice, but also the secret of the fifth element. Like i said, i love Elsa for not just the personality, but its her new development and as always, an A+ performance of Menzel.

Next is the young sister Anna (voiced by Kristen Bell), she's another lovable princess in two movies, she's more playful, more energy, optimistic, sometimes awkward and always like to attaching to her older sister. Though she may not as my number one favorite, but i love her too for not just her fun personality, but also another great performance from Kristen. I guess its no wonder why many people in the community love Anna and Elsa, eh?

Then we have Olaf the snowman (voiced by Josh Gad), for many Disney films, we always love the comedic sidekicks like Genie (my favorite), Pumbaa and Timon and few others. But with Olaf, despite being goofy, but he's outgoing, optimistic too and kind-hearted snowman, specially with a friendship between him and Anna since her childhood. As always, Josh is always did a nice work and fun with his playful snowman.

And we have Kristoff and Sven (voiced by Jonathan Groff), i find him to be a fascinating love interest of Anna, even though its just that he's so connective to her, but he always like to have a conversation with his good reindeer pal Sven in impression on his mind, which i find it funny and and fascinating as cute friends together. Bot of course, Jonathan did a good work of his role.

Though they did brough Anna and Elsa's dead parents from the flashback like King Agnarr (voiced by Alfred Molina, aka Doc Ock from Spider-Man 2) and Queen Iduna (voiced by Evan Rachel Wood). And of course, they brought the trolls back a bit, like Pabbie (voiced by CiarĂ¡n Hinds) for hinting about the Enchanted Forest before the adventure started, but at least the trolls made a small appearance, instead of reprising the whole "fixer-upper" thing...!

So now we got the characters that we all know from the first movie, what about the new characters?
Well, i find them to be rather ok at the time.

There's Lieutenant Destin Mattias (voiced by Sterling K. Brown) who's the leader of the lost soldiers of Arendelle, who's a serious and determined boss that the dam in Enchanted Forest is all protected and Yelana (voiced by Martha Plimpton) the leader of Northuldra tribe, for not just giving plot device for Elsa about the secret fifth element, but also wanted to bring piece on the forest with the spirits.

As for the spirits, i find them to be rather fascinating. Though im aware they're doing for the show for the animation, but then again, i like what they brought us, like the magical salamander named "Bruni" who has the ability to running fast with fire and it looks sooo cute, a Nokk, who're water spirit that appears to be a horse (kinda like Kelpie, but without kidnapping anyone for drowning), the Earth giants are a threatening giant sized Golem in Earth element, and Gale, who's basically appears in various wind with leaves or even a freakin tornado (though it is said that the effects of Gale is the hardest part of developing animation).

Though its nice to see our fellow protagonists from the first film again, though the new guys aren't as memorable, they're just showing if they're left alive while being trapped in Enchanted forest. Though the spirits are rather fascinating, despite the cliches in the story.

And now for my final opinion of this film.
Overall, Frozen II is a rather a pretty good sequel, although its not as better than the first or not as perfect as Avengers Endgame. The animation is outstanding as always, the musicals are good, the expanded world in the franchise is impressive at the time and the characters, while its good to see Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff and Sven again, but the new characters are rather mixed bag. Even though the story is rather good, but its just the execution aren't as creative when it comes to the cliche that its like "Gee, a movie that's about the secret of the fifth element, i've never heard that one before.", again, the writing might be good for the dialogue, the setting and the humor, but its just that they could've avoid from the obstacle of cliche.

Even though its not the best, but at least they tried when we like to see. So if you're a fan of Frozen, maybe this one is for you. Or otherwise, maybe stick to the first one that started all.

For my rating, il give this one about...  8/10. Though several people give it seven, but since i like Frozen, il high up a little bit.

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.

(Review Ends)

Anthony: *sighs* Good god...! I cannot believe that i lost my valuable collection...! *grabs his shotgun and his lightsaber for his revenge* Looks like its time to go commit homicide...! *walks out of his home for his revenge*

???: *sees him walking away while hiding behind the tree* He should've been warned by the fellow gems and his friends...!

To be continued...

Sunday 17 November 2019

Movie Review: Ford V Ferrari

Anthony: I was resurrected from these shiny stones?!

Red Diamond: Ugh... Yeah...! It hurts so bad...!!! *shows her burnt and wounded right hand*

Annie: Yeah... Anyway, we collected these rocks that were called "Infinity Stones". These stones are used for impact powers, especially for the snap to wiping out in half of livings. But thankfully RD saved our universe.

Anthony: Ah ok. So... now what?

Blackonne: Well, i guess thats it and we might as well to live happily ever after.

Anthony: Right, may i have the gauntlet with these stones?

Red Diamond: Are you sure about this?

Anthony: Nah, il be fine, besides, these stones will be like my valuable collection to keep myself safe and possibly powerful.

Red Diamond: I don't think this will--

Anthony: *grabs Diamond's Infinity Gauntlet quickly* Thanksalotbye! *then quickly uses Space Stone to teleporting back to his home world*

Annie: Uhhh... Is this guy going nuts or what???

(Review Starts)



Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my movie review.

As a kid to adult, i love Motorsports, its always my favorite sports involving cars racing each other on the tracks, its fun, impact, scary and entertaining to watch on the crowd or even on screen. Especially that i grew up with Formula 1, Formula E, Indycar (at the time), DTM (also at the time), karting, rally and some others out there, or even a toy cars like Hot Wheels. However, there's one that i like, but barely watch (since im from Canada), its the one that many European fans are always love to watch, which is the 24 hours of Le Mans, this is easily the most memorable racing event that viewers love to watch and talking about for decades, as you know, the goal is to racing for 24 hours with three/two drivers switching seats before the time is up to the finish line. There are several films that took place in 24 hours of Le Mans, but then we have a recent film that takes place that we all remembered, most of.

"Ford V Ferrari" (aka "Le Mans '66" outside of US) is a 2019 motorsport film that was produced/directed by James Mangold, co-produced by Peter Chernin and Jenno Topping, then written by Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth and Jason Keller.

Even though i never grew up with 24 hours of Le Mans, but there had be plenty of memorable stories in Le Mans, whether is the Audi's R18 e-tron quattro's impressive record in 2015, the unlikely stock car race in 1976 due to oil crisis or even a father and son racing in 1950. But today, we have a movie based on Le Mans's biggest game changer, which is having an American supercar competing against Italian's supercar in order to defeat the domination in 1966.

So, with all that said, will this movie will make it to the finish line, or is this film will be unprepared to be in the Circuit de la Sarthe?

Well, lets find out.

The Story
With a movie based on true story, you think it follows accurately, well it was quite nice to follow for the racing and a car development.

The movie starts where Carroll Shelby was on his racing career with the 1959 24 hours of Le Mans, though despite he won the race with Roy Salvadori, he was forced to retired due his heart condition, resulting him working his own car company, then we have Ken Miles, a British for not only a racer, but a mechanic as well, but didn't turned out that it was forced to shut down after winning his race on Willow Springs International racing, and Ford is in financial struggle with lay off employees, though they originally to be with Ferrari for the deal of purchase, but it was quickly didn't happened, because Fiat offered the bigger deal to Enzo Ferrari to keep their business open for the racing. For the sake of rejected, the owner Henry Ford II wants to defeat Ferrari in Le Mans, so the Vice President Lee Iacocca hires Carroll Shelby, who's the owner of his own car company "Shelby America" to building an endurance car, along with Shelby bringing Ken Miles for not only helping to building it, but also testing it. Its up to ford, Shelby and Miles to test the famous Ford GT40 to testing it before the car is perfect to go for racing.

Its a nice story what it brought us as a modern viewers like myself, since it mainly focuses not just a racing, but its all about building Ford GT40 in order test it out if the car is good enough, even they have to struggle the obstacles like brake, a stiff steering and most importantly, the speed in order to push the limit over Ferrari. I mean we've heard many other teams like Porsche, March and other car companies try hard to building bigger and better car to competing against the biggest Italian car company, or even Ford as a newcomer. Though the movie also has a subplot involving Ken's struggle from his family, since he wanted to keeping himself secret before admitted for his real truth, specially the scene where Ken's wife going faster while arguing him for dangerous reason (i mean jeez lady, take a chill pill while you're in conversation while driving!).

Not to mention, it was well-written for the story and even the dialogue is also pretty good for the car design and perhaps the character development for motivating.

The story is pretty good to follow with well execution with the writing what we cared for.


The Presentation
Its no secret that the presentation itself looks amazing for 2019.

The setting of this movie looks nice and perfect that it takes place in 1960's with old cars, the clothing, the depiction of the old racing rule and several others.

The location is also nice and accurate with California of Willow Spring and Riverside International Raceway and of course, the "Circuit de la Sarthe" in Le Mans. Its really to see the filming on the racing track.

Speaking of the track, the cinematography looks amazing with the lighting, quality and some effects. But of course, there's the racing sequences, they're obviously the highlight of this movie and its fun, intense and entertaining to watch as a racing fan like me. specially there are several moments with testing scene with Ford GT40, it looks nice to see for demonstration. And the whole racing scenes with Willow Spring, 24 hours of Daytona and of course, the 24 hours of Le Mans are easily the fun moments of the racing sequence, it made us not only goosebumps, but also routing for in the racing, especially for Ken Miles.

The presentation looks amazing for the quality to the racing sequences, because as a fan of Motorsport, i enjoy to watching the racing scenes with endurance cars since "Rush", though this one is about Formula 1, but i digress.

The Characters
As a biographical movie, the characters has to be portrayed right when it comes to this movie? Well, i can say that they're rather interesting, not just the personalities, but more of a acting with some of our familiar actors. I should also bring out that the film was supposed to star Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, but never happened but again, i digress.

First is Carroll Shelby (played by Matt Damon), he's the former racer and the owner of his own car company for developing sports cars, he's a fascinated movie version of Shelby, since he always cared about racing for building cars with his employees. Aside that i heard his appearance wasn't as accurate what the real Carroll Shelby looks, but i can cay that Damon did a nice work of his role.

Next we have Ken Miles (played by former Batman, Christian Bale), he's a hot-tempered and rather a cocky racer/mechanic for his struggle, since he was a big deal from Shelby. Even though he's hot-headed at the time, he's also pretty much hard working for not just racing seriously, but also working with cars, specially with Ford GT40. The chemistry between Shelby and Miles is fascinating to watch, since Shelby is sorta like a mentor while Miles is again, sorta like a rookie, since we can feel him as the underdog for rising up to 24 hours of Le Mans. But of course, Christian did great work of his role.

Then we have Lee Iacocca (played by Jon Bernthal) he's a vice president of Ford in order to helping out Shelby American to build the car. He's more a plot device for bringing Shelby to Ford for agaon, building their prototype car to be done. Even though he's not much else to say, but Jon did a good job.

Next we have Henry Ford II (played by Tracy Letts), he's the CEO of hos motor company for the struggle of employees and his revenge against Ferrari to Le Mans. Its no secret that he's the side character, he's big boss of his company to hoping the project will help to make more money and more marketability for his cars (especially since their infamous car called "Ford Edsel", but that's a different story). Though Henry is rather serious, but i can give a credit for Tracy for his interesting role.

And finally we have Enzo Ferrari (played by the Italian actor Remo Girone) its no secret that Enzo is the most famous founder of his company with his name. At first, he seems to be rather a nice guy, but when he was purchased by Fiat, we all know he's gonna be the main antagonist of the film. Though he has a minor appearance of this film, but at least its nice to see Enzo Ferrari in the big screen, for the second time since "Rush" (though he was played by a different actor than Remo).

While the rest of the characters are not much else to say, there's Mollie Miles (played by Caitriona Balfe), who's a concerned wife for Ken's business and maybe his life, Peter Miles (played by young Noah Jupe) who's the son of Ken where he's routing for his father, Leo Beebe (played by Josh Lucas) who's a senior executive vice president for scolding at our main heroes, Roy Lunn (played by JJ Feild) who's the engineer of Ford GT40 and Bruce Mclaren (played by Benjamin Rigby) who's the most famous racer around the world since he's been on F1 and even 24 hours of Le Mans.

The characters on this movie is quite enjoyable for the writing and even an impressive acting.

And now for my final opinion of this film.
Overall, "Ford V Ferrari" is easily another best film i've ever watched, the story accurately good, it is well-written, the presentation is fantastic, the racing scenes are fun to watch and the characters are pretty good at the times. Even though it had some small issues that i have, aside from different appearance of Carroll Shelby, but my small nitpick is that they could've include little more for the construction montage and some other characters in true story are missing, such as Mclaren's side driver Chris Amon, but thats just my own flaws that was missing.

This is easily another must-watch film if you like film based on history and even racing. If you're a fan of racing cars like me, get some friends together and watching it together, it will never disappoints.

Though i wanted to give this one a 10, but its not as perfect than the one that i loved so much like "Avengers Endgame". So i had to drop it down a bit for 9/10. It would've been a perfect movie, but at least they tried.

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.

(Review ends)

Anthony: Ok, so now i got that out of the way... *puts the Infinity Gauntlet on his briefcase and puts it underneath his bed* Lets hope no one can get these stones and everything will be alright without having intruders.

*ding dong*

Anthony: Huh, i wonder what's gonna be...

To be continued...