'Coco' Review

Miguel (Anthony Gonzales) is a music fanatic who admires the great Ernesto De La Cruz (Benjamin Bratt) but he is forbidden to play due to his family’s ban on music. After running away to play music, Miguel steals a guitar and is sent to the Land of the Dead. Miguel meets his ancestors and new friends as he looks to escape before sunrise or he’ll be trapped there forever. 

Ever since Inside Out, Pixar seems to have gone through a mini-slump of movies that haven’t quite matched their usual standard. Coco, the latest addition to the Pixar filmography, sees a return to the quality we expect from the animation studio.

Coco takes place during the Mexican holiday Dia de Muertos, also known as The Day of the Dead, and is a perfect set up for a Pixar film. It allows the film to entertain with bright colours, wonderful animation, and fun characters, as well as having an emotional message that will leave a deeper impact on audiences.

The Mexican setting allows Pixar to explore a different culture that hasn’t had a great deal of focus on in recent times – The Book of Life being the main exception. This colourful festival fits perfect with Pixar’s animation as each frame is crafted full of detail, with fluorescent colours, unique characters and locations and the usual Pixar Easter Eggs. Not only is the film visually stunning, but it presents the opportunity to learn more about a celebration of life and family from another nation. Early on there are a few exposition-heavy scenes but it is necessary to make sure that everybody – especially the children – are fully aware regarding the meaning of this festival. Once the details have been straightened out, Coco’s true charm takes over as the adventure really begins.

The best kind of Pixar films are those that are equally as entertaining for both kids and adults – see Toy Story series, Inside Out, WALL-E etc. Coco joins this esteemed list as it is a fun adventure story packed with antics and great music to keep you thoroughly entertained. But most impressive is how the film manages to gain an incredible emotional response, especially in its final stages. The threats to the well-being of great characters may be enough to garner a response from you but the films respectful use of a sad disorder will have you fighting back the tears. It is a really beautiful moment and one of Pixar’s finest scenes that they have ever crafted – it’s up there with the first 10 minutes of Up and the incinerator scene from Toy Story 3.

Themes of family and creativity and how to balance the two are ever apparent as the film’s message about the two is very clear. Again, this is both equally as valuable for both children and adults as it is a universal message that everybody can relate to in some way. Pixar never fails to amaze on how they can create a story that has such a range that it can touch even the sternest of viewers.

Michael Giacchino’s score and the original songs from various artists contribute heavily enabling you to feel immersed in this world.  The music is created through a combination of mariachi, salsa, and flamenco with the results being high energy, catchy tunes which will stick in your head for days. The work from the cast members – particularly from Gonzales, Bratt and Gael Garcia Bernal – is to be praised in making the musical numbers of the film seem as authentic from the characters as possible.

To continue talking about the cast, its great to see that in a film like this that the majority of the cast were all of Latino descent, bar Pixar regular John Ratzenberger. Despite being an animated film, its great to see that this cast was made up in the correct way and it really helps add to creating this authentic imagined world.

Coco provides everything you could possibly want from a Pixar film. Fun, enjoyable characters within a world that is a joy to explore, as the film also looks to tug at your heartstrings. Add in the originality of the story which provides fantastic representation for those who celebrate this event and you find very little to not enjoy. Despite a slowish start, the film has plenty of conflict, twists, and entertainment to keep you engaged throughout its entire runtime.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Coco hits theatres in the U.K. on the 19th January

'Beauty and The Beast' Review

Belle (Emma Watson) is an intelligent young woman who lives with her father Maurice (Kevin Kline). One day when Maurice goes out to sell goods, he is taken prisoner by a Beast (Dan Stevens) who mistakes Maurice as an intruder. Belle takes her father's place as the Beast's prisoner. It soon becomes known that the Beast is a prince who has been transformed due to his inability to love someone. As time goes on, Belle becomes closer to the Beast as he looks to finally break the curse.

Tale as old as time, the 'Beauty and The Beast' live action remake is finally here! After the great successes from live action remakes of 'Cinderella' and 'The Jungle Book', nothing seems to be safe from being brought to life. As someone who enjoyed both films, I was fairly excited as this news as there is plenty within 'Beauty and The Beast' which could be brought to life with that special Disney magic. Although it is fair to consider these remakes unnecessary, there is plenty to enjoy and marvel at in this live-action version of the first ever Best Picture nominated animated film.

With these live action remakes, there are many important aspects that the film has to succeed with in order for it to be a success. For one, you have to make sure that you do the characters justice, especially those who are beloved by fans. Emma Watson is great as Belle in what is a near perfect casting. Watson is known to be a clever young woman and this transcends into her performance, there's just more singing involved for her. The supporting characters like Kevin Kline as Maurice and Josh Gad as LeFou were both great with Kline bringing emotion to the film and Gad bringing humour with some quippy lines. The one character that could have been done better is Gaston, portrayed by Luke Evans. In no ways is this a bad performance, it's just that Gaston as a character is very cartoony. Gaston is over the top with his arrogance which may be hard to replicate within the film. Evans never really comes across as a truly despicable human who is as self-centred as the original portrayal was. In saying that, there are many moments where Evans shines, especially during his self-titled song and during the finale of the film. Just a little more of that Gaston arrogance would've really nailed this portrayal of a very memorable Disney character.

The non-human characters in the film have a similar fate as for the most part, they are handled and performed exceptionally well. This was perhaps the biggest challenge as it is easier to bring human characters to life as you simply use actors that resemble them. Much like in 'The Jungle Book', CGI characters are made up for the likes of Lumiere (Ewan McGregor), Cogsworth (Ian McKellen) and Mrs Potts (Emma Thompson). The fun, cartoon characters are replaced to look like realistic objects to tremendous results. The characters look great and the vocals are great throughout, both in dialogue and in song. The only one problem with the CGI characters, unfortunately, is with the Beast himself. The Beast is not up to the same standard as everything else in the film, looking clearly animated and out of place at times. This is fairly disappointing as Disney had done so well with the creatures in 'The Jungle Book' but they weren't able to replicate the same results yet again.

The original film's runtime is 84 minutes with this remake changing that to a longer run time of 130 minutes. With this, you would maybe feel inclined that there is a lot more that has been included in the film. In reality, there isn't much changed from the original film but with some more details added in. There's nothing game-changing in the new version but there are some good moments where the film ties up some loose ends, like what happened to Belle's mother. The story is handled very well as it doesn't mess around with the elements that made the original so great. The magic and message are still ever as apparent in this remake which is the main goal for these films. Although it is the same story and message redone, there is no denying that this is handled with the utmost care. The newest version of the tale is one that families and younger children will definitely love.


There are new songs introduced in this film but what will be stuck in your head are the classics you remember from the 1991 version. The new versions of 'Gaston', 'Be Our Guest' and the titular song are all great and even more magical as they are brought to life. The songs are still ever as catchy but the choreography, settings and costume all help to make these moments extremely enjoyable. The musical moments of the film are great to watch although the newer songs don't hit the mark nearly as much. In saying that, it is a complete joy to see these moments brought to life. The animated version is still great to watch but it is something else seeing these sequences be brought to life. There is a high appreciation for the effort gone into these moments. Claims that this film is lazy can be rubbished entirely due to moments like the Gaston song where you can see costume designers, set designers, actors and the director all coming together to make something that is not only special, but a pleasure to watch.


As far as these Disney remakes go, this is my favourite so far. Is this a perfect remake? No. But does it still carry that all important message that it is what inside that counts with a person? Absolutely. Is it still a highly entertaining musical that will leave you humming the songs for days? Yes. Is the magic still there? Yes. This film succeeds on many levels and is sure to bring great enjoyment to those who see it.


Final Verdict = 

So have you seen 'Beauty and The Beast'? If so, what did you think of the film? I hope that this review was useful for if you were planning on seeing the film or not! Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my review, it is much appreciated!

By Angus McGregor

'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' Review

'The Force Awakens' breathed new life into the 'Star Wars' franchise as a rejuvenated cast combined with our favourite characters to create something truly magical. 'Rogue One' was next in line to continue the saga but we were going back in the timeline yet again. With the story not featuring a lot of the regular characters and being placed just before the original trilogy, this was the franchise's biggest risk yet.

Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen) was taken away by the Empire to work on what will become the Death Star. He leaves behind a daughter, Jyn (Felicity Jones) who grows up to become rather rebellious. She is soon recruited by the Rebel Alliance to help locate her father in return for her freedom. However, as she learns more, Jyn and her team become a much bigger part in the fight against the Empire than they expected. The team now have to steal the Death Star's plans so they have the slightest chance of defeating the Empire.

The film starts off with the classic 'A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...' but with no opening scroll. The opening still does feel like a Star Wars movie as Michael Giacchino's score is Williamsesque as a large starship appears from the darkness. From this moment on, you know you're in for a ride. The opening scene is a great start to the film as we are introduced to new characters in a tranquil setting as the Empire approaches. The cinematography and performances from Mads Mikkelsen and Ben Mendelsohn shine. From there, it seems as if the film is just going to spring on. However, the film's main problems come shortly after this.

The film then proceeds to introduce Jyn Erso and the rest of the characters within a short period of time. A lot of fan service is placed here as we travel to different planets as the universe is expanded fairly well. The main problem with this first acts it its character building. Our heroes don't really do anything that great or memorable to make you really care about them - apart from the wonderful droid K-2S0. It does seem as if some moments were cut out as it feels a little rushed as we don't immediately fall in love with the characters, unlike how we did to Rey, Finn and Poe Dameron in 'The Force Awakens'. This doesn't help with the emotional moments early on in the film as it aims to tug at your heartstrings but ultimately fails at doing so. In all honesty, this is my only gripe with the film as the rest grows upon this, getting better as the film progresses. 

In this Star Wars film, we get much more of the war aspect than ever before. We see conflicts in areas never seen before, with the Rebels carrying out a lot of the attacks on the unsuspecting Empire. Director Gareth Edwards did good work with 'Monsters' and 'Godzilla', and his work with action continues on here. Edwards creates a true war feeling except for the obvious changes with stormtroopers and to the guns. It was truly like if you mixed the likes of a 'Saving Private Ryan' with 'Star Wars'. There are so many great scenes within this film, both in space and on the ground as Edwards more than succeeds with the action has he sets up everything incredibly well whilst bringing a realistic look to the conflict. The aspect of sacrifice is handled superbly in this film as that is the cost of war. This adds some great emotion to the film which was lacking earlier. The final act of this film is absolutely incredible. Everything that you could possibly want is delivered in one of the best endings to a film I have seen this year. The film delivers so much in the end that you forget about the negatives as you are in utter joy watching the battles commence. Without spoiling anything, the final minutes of this film are the best which will have fans cheering after watching it. 

We get to see our characters be heroes that really make you care for them. Donnie Yen and Jiang Wen shine as the film goes on with Yen's Chirrut Imwe being one of the coolest characters to grace the Star Wars franchise. We get to see a fresh cast within this franchise and the new character do a great job. In fact, I feel that the two weakest characters were from the two most well-known actors, Mads Mikkelsen and Forest Whitaker. Other than them, the new cast does very well, bringing good emotion and moments that will have you on the edge of your seat. K-2SO improves on BB-8 last year as he is so helpful in the film and is equally hilarious. K-2SO may be the best droid that we have seen in the series as he is perfect, credit to Alan Tudyk for his performance. Felicity Jones and Diego Luna are the main stars of the film and do an adequate job. They do enough within the film but they are not going to give you trouble when making your list of all time favourite characters. There was something lacking within them compared to other heroes in the franchise, although it is tough to compete with some of film's greatest characters of all time.

As for improving the franchise, 'Rogue One' most definitely does so. The film adds in details that improve the whole saga and answer some of the questions about the other films. We get a new, fresh look at some of the areas in the galaxy that we have never seen before. Darth Vader, as well as the rest of the returning characters, benefit a lot from this film despite not being in the film a lot. When you first see him, you are filled with joy and then terror when you see what he can do. 'Rogue One' is a very worthy addition to the franchise. Fans will really love this one- I know I did- but there is also enough for casual filmgoers to enjoy too. Overall, a solid addition and if the rest of the anthology are as good as this, we're in for a treat.

Final Verdict = 

So have you seen 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'? If so, what did you think of it? I hope that this review was useful for if you were planning on seeing the movie which I highly recommend! Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my review, it is much appreciated.

By Angus McGregor

'Moana' Review

2016 has been blessed with some great animated movies. 'Zootropolis/Zootopia', 'Kubo and The Two Strings' and 'Storks' have been particular highlights for me with the likes of 'Finding Dory' following shortly behind. Disney is back again and looking to add to that list with 'Moana'. And they did just that.

Moana (Auli'i Cravalho) is growing tired of being stuck on the one island. After her grandmother reveals a secret about their people and what has caused them to be secluded , Moana sets off on a journey to make things right. Moana will need the help of demi-god Maui (Dwayne Johnson) as they travel across the ocean against dark forces.

2016 has been an incredible year for Disney. If you include the success of the Marvel movies as well as the inevitable success of 'Rogue One' with the animation success, then 2016 is one of the companies best years in recent memory. With Pixar bringing 'Finding Dory' to become the year's highest-grossing film, as well as Disney's 'Zootropolis' (Zootopia), the year has been a financially and critically successful year. And 'Moana' only builds on that.

Following in the footsteps of 'Tangled' and 'Frozen' comes yet another upbeat musical with fun, interesting characters. The film introduces actress Auli'i Cravalho who is phenomenal in her film debut. Cravalho shines as Moana, doing exceptionally well with her delivery throughout the film. The young Hawaiin actress also showcases her beautiful singing voice, giving the likes of Idina Menzel (Frozen) and Mandy Moore (Tangled) a run for their money. Cravalho isn't alone in bringing quality to the movie as she only has the help from the world's biggest movie star, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson. And it is clear to see why Johnson is on top of the world as his charisma and comedy is on point throughout this film. Johnson provides great support to his co-star as the two showcases great chemistry, bouncing off one another and interacting very well to bring some heart to the film. 

It's very well known that Disney is the kings of animation as the company have been powering out classics since the 1930's. The companies ability to create fantastic, entertaining, intriguing characters is part of the reason to why they have been so successful. Directors John Musker and Ron Clements have been a part of classics like 'The Little Mermaid', 'Aladdin' and 'Hercules', which most people would agree are filled with great characters. 'Moana' is no different. Moana herself is a fun character who won't let anything come in between herself and her goals. She is strong willed but not perfect as she is still young and fairly naive. The character of Maui portrayed by Dwayne Johnson is an incredibly well-written character. Maui is at fault for causing trouble beyond Moana's island as he grew greedy with power. Maui had good intentions for the world but the constant need for praise and approval continued to push the demi-god to make rash decisions. Maui progresses through the film to think about others rather than just himself. It is very clear that the creators really thought about this character, taking the time to give him more than just cool abilities which they so easily could've done so.

Disney set 'Lilo and Stitch' in Hawaii but they had yet created a film surrounding the mythology surrounding the Pacific Islands. It's crazy to think this as well considering how the area is an animators dream. The scenery alone is breathtaking in the film as it truly is made to loo like paradise but the ocean as well is beautiful. Due to the mythology within the film, the creators got a chance to experiment with shapeshifting, lava monsters and the Kakamora- an homage to 2015's 'Mad Max: Fury Road'. There are many aspects of this film that seem to be perfect for an animator as there are so many fun aspects that they were able to craft. The animation is top quality of course, as you would expect from such an established name.

If you're someone who had 'Let It Go' constantly stuck in your head back in 2013, then prepare for 'Moana' to have the same effect on you! Whether it is Cravalho's 'How Far I'll Go' or Johnson's 'You're Welcome', you will be humming or singing along for weeks to come. The songs are infectiously catchy and upbeat that will not only entertain you but just make you happy. 'How Far I'll Go' is the standout song from this musical and probably a safe bet for an Academy Award nomination. The talent involved do great as the music is combined with beautiful vocals to create something truly magical.

'Moana' is yet another great addition from Disney. There is so much to enjoy about this film, whether it is from the characters, the visuals or the music. The fun is infectious and a good time is guaranteed with this one. Another great film for the list of quality animation works in 2016 which we may hear more of during award season. If you don't mind me, I'm going to listen to the soundtrack some more now. 

Final Verdict = 

So have you seen 'Moana'? If so, what did you think of the film? I hope that this review was useful for if you were planning on seeing the film which I highly recommend. Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my review, it is much appreciated!

By Angus McGregor

'Queen of Katwe' Review

When you think of sports movies, you think of inspiring, uplifting stories as one struggles to overcome the odds. Chess isn't exactly what comes to your mind when you would think about sports adaptable for the big screen. However, 'Queen of Katwe' shows that it can work, matching others with its great story.

Living in the poor area of Katwe, Uganda, a young girl named Phiona (Madina Nalwanga) and her family struggle in the slums. One day, she meets Robert Katende (David Oyelowo), a generous man who teaches poor children how to play chess. Phiona soon becomes invested in the game and under Katende's tuition, she becomes his top student winning local tournaments. The opportunity to compete all over the world gives Phiona a chance to create a better life for her and her family.

As with many sports movies, the film follows the same story and even contains some of the basic plot lines. However, this is fine if they are done well and are effective. We see sports movies where someone rises from a poor area with all odds seeming against them. This is improved on drastically in this film as the situation in Katwe is a lot more deprived than even the most deprive areas in more developed countries. The terrible housing, lack of food and no schooling for children are only a few problems that Phiona and her family face as we see them really struggle. The film is set from the late 00's to the start of the current decade, showing that these conditions exist even today. This seems very realistic as we all know that many suffer in these conditions, which draws sympathy immediately from the audience.

Despite these situations that the children find themselves in, the kids don't struggle to find enjoyment out of the littlest things. This is the only way of life that they know which is equally as heartbreaking. The film even uses the children reacting to things we take for granted for effective use. A scene is set up to show the children sleeping overnight at one of the chess tournaments which shows them all together on the floor, possibly showing the togetherness that the group has. However, the film shows that none of them has the luxury item of a bed, so just simply did not know what it was used for. A fairly powerful yet subtle use of showing these kids obliviousness to what is a standard household item to a lot of us.

'Queen of Katwe' uses a lot of African and African-American actors in the movie that really helps create the feeling of the areas. This shouldn't even be a surprise but in this day in age, you still struggle to find films that have genuine actors from the locations they are set in. It's good to see that Disney took the time to actually make this right as it improves the film drastically. Madina Nalwanga plays the lead character Phiona in what his her first feature film. Nalwanga feels a bit green at times throughout the film but for her debut, she did a fairly good job. Lupita Nyong'o is the star of the film as Phiona's strict mother who looks to provide for her kids. Nyong'o is fantastic showing great range as she faces tough dilemmas. She, of course, wants the best for her kids but also needs them to help provide for each other. Nyong'o captured this incredibly well with a great performance.

David Oyelowo plays Robert Katende in what is one of the most likeable characters that you will see on the big screen this year. Oyelowo also shows his class as the unselfish Katende who just wants to improve the lives of the people in Katwe. His story is an intriguing one as he also faces dilemmas between him helping these kids and his personal life. Oyelowo brings the feeling that Katende really cares for these children in a touching performance, showing a good message that you should always look to help others.

This is very much so a different approach to a sports movie, as it is much more story based which much less action of the actual game. The film does a good job at creating the story around chess, but ultimately, the game itself isn't that interesting. Usually, in a sports movie, the finale has a dramatic ending with the final match packing a punch. Due to it being chess, you lose a lot of the drama and it doesn't really deliver that much. Luckily, the film doesn't rely on this much as the struggle of Phiona and her family does more than satisfy.

One main problem that the film has is that it seems to drag on a bit. There are a couple of events added to the story that does not need to be. It seemed in the last third that they were prolonging the film just to get it to be two hours long. If the film cut some of this out, it still would've been equally as effective. However, too many subplots are added and it ultimately hurts the movie. You end up waiting for the uplifting ending but it just seems to drag. The film seems to try and make it more dramatic, but with the subject matter and main story, it already did enough to create an uplifting story. More is less and that was the case, particularly with this film.

Overall, 'Queen of Katwe' is a good, uplifting story that you may not be used to. Nyong'o and Oyelowo both do great jobs that elevate the film. However, there seems to be too much added to the film which causes it to drag at times. A film worth seeing that will impact in some way.

Final Verdict = 

So have you seen 'Queen of Katwe'? If so, what did you think of the movie? I hope that this review was useful for if you were planning on seeing the movie! Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my review, it is much appreciated!

By Angus McGregor

'Pete's Dragon' Review

'Pete's Dragon' is the latest film to recieve a reboot in the form of a live action movie. The original was sort of live action with a cartoon dragon but now, Disney are going all out...to an extent. Comparing this to Disney's other live action project this year 'The Jungle Book', 'Pete's Dragon' has had nowhere near as much attention put on it. Maybe this is due to it not being as beloved but still, you'd expect a Disney project like this to be a lot more in the public eye. Due to this, I didn't expect a masterpiece. I wish it did gain more recognition as 'Pete's Dragon' is very much so an entertaining movie.

When he was very young, Pete (Oakes Fegley) was in a car accident that took the lives of his parents. Orphaned, he was saved by a green dragon who took care of him and they became each others family. Mr Meacham (Robert Redford) told stories of how he encountered the dragon to which many believed were not true, including his own daughter Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard). Grace soon discovers Pete who claims to have lived with the dragon in the woods. Grace will now see for herself if what she has been told has been the truth all along.

I have no memory of seeing the original 'Pete's Dragon' and if I have seen it, it would have been when I was very little. Some may have a problem with this remake but for me, it was a lesser known story that could do with being brought back to the big screen for a new generation to know of the story. And I feel that it more than succeeded as a reboot/remake. This retelling of the story created a fun, family adventure which it set out to do.

The main part of the film obviously has to do with the relationship between Pete and his dragon, Elliott. With minimal dialogue, you can see a true love between the two which is impressive considering the relationship consists of a child actor and a completely CGI character. The film handles the relationship between the two very well as we see that they really rely on each other. They hate being apart for any period of time and you can see a true bond between the pair. Strangely, the film cannot do this at all with the relationship of Bryce Dallas Howard's character Grace and her husband played by Wes Beentley. We are told that they are a unit but it never really shows in the film. The pair don't have great chemistry together and they don't seem to be in a relationship at all. Just an observation that seemed strange considering how well the film handled the relationship between boy and creature.

Oakes Fegley does very well as Pete, the orphaned child who was taken care of by Elliott. He was impressive in his role as were thee supporting characters. Oona Laurence is Grace's daughter Natalie which brings in another child actor but again she is great. She develops a friendship with Pete that helps draw his personality out as he grows to trust people more as he gains his first human friend. Laurence shined last year in 'Southpaw' and she impressed me yet again and most definitely is one for the future. 

Karl Urban does a tremendous job as Grace's brother in law Gavin who after discovering Elliott, seeks to hunt him down. After playing one of the most likeable characters 'Bones' in Star Trek Beyond, Urban plays a terrific bad guy who you just dislike as soon as he finishes his first scene. The character was well written and equally well portrayed by Urban who shines again. Him and his group of cronies get the film to become more exciting as the pursue the beast, giving us comedy as well as moments where we see our protagonists struggle and even plays with your emotions.

Robert Redford appears in this film and for what the scenes he's in, he's great. However he appears quite early on in the film for not a long period of time and then completely disappears from the story. With his character having already encountered the dragon already, I feel they could have done a lot more with him. He was underutilised to an extent as he doesn't show up for a good 40 minutes after his first appearance and you sort of forget about him. In saying that though, he does play a big part in the finale which is very fun with Redford leading from the front.

It's safe to say that the start of the film isn't as interesting or as fun a the rest of the film. That's mainly due to the story not really kicking in until later on and even then it is quite thin and the events happen rather quickly. The film certainly takes its time at first to set everything up which may not be as entertaining the whole way through. However they do make sure to throw in some nice scenes involving Pete and Elliott playing together, showcasing the relationship and showing off some dazzling CGI effects at the same time.

Speaking of the CGI in this film, it is of a very high standard. The dragon looks decent and there is a consistency in quality throughout the whole film. It's not your usual dragon which resembles a dog a lot of the time but nonetheless, it is still very impressive. The CGI is utilised incredibly well when creating other creatures in the film as well. I'm not entirely sure if they were CGI but the wolves in this film looked so lifelike that I'm really unsure if they were generated rather than actually being there. I hope that it was CGI as it would go down as one of the best uses this year, matching that from 'The Jungle Book' earlier this year.

Overall, Pete's Dragon is a family, fun and heartwarming film that will bring entertainment across the board. A good example of what a remake should do and it seems to have introduced a tale to a new generation with a nice modern look at it. Worth seeing if you already enjoy the tale or if you are completely new to the story, like myself.

Final Verdict = 

So have you seen 'Pete's Dragon'? If so what did you think of the film? I hope that this review was useful for if you were planning on seeing the movie! Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my review, it is much appreciated!

By Angus McGregor

'Finding Dory' Review

13 years ago, Pixar amazed audiences with its wonderful tale of a father searhing the ocean for his son. 'Finding Nemo' met great success both critically and at the box office which showed that Pixar had more to offer after Toy Story and Monsters Inc. The film touched so many to the point where fans were clamouring for a sequel to see more of these great characters. Now in 2016, Pixar are back with a new story in 'Finding Dory' but would they be able to recapture the magic that they created 13 years ago?

As we know, Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) is a wide eyed, blue tang fish who suffers from short term memory loss and forgets most things after around 10 seconds. However, she starts to remember her family that urges her to find them. With help from Marlin (Albert Brooks) and Nemo (Hayden Rolence), the trio will cross the ocean to the Marine Life Institute where Dory will need to get into to be reunited with her parents.

Finding Nemo was such a delight when it came out in 2003. The family film had so much heart in it which touched audiences all over the world with the family and friendship aspects. Unfortunately for Pixar, the same levels were not able to be replicated. I don't know if it is just something to do with the time that has past but there isn't that same feeling. Of course you want Dory to be reunited with her family but it just doesn't hit you as much as the original struggle that Marlin and Dory faced. It works to an extent but not to the standards set, which when you're a major company like Pixar is expected to be met.

As well as that, the adventure that our fish friends go on is nowhere near as good as in 'Nemo'. It's actually a small part as they get to the Marine Life Institute and they then have to break into there. It was so great seeing Marlin and Dory travelling and interacting with many parts of the ocean. They obviously had to change it up but there was so much more that they could have done and explored in the ocean. Instead we got a lot more action within the institute and the reliance of other characters which mainly takes our protagonists out of the water. There are enjoyable moments within the institute for sure but again, the expectations did make me feel disappointed with this part of the film.

One of the biggest problems for me has to do with the supporting characters. In 'Nemo' we had the three highly entertaining sharks who were hilarious in the original. We also had the other fish in the tank with Nemo who were all great with different personalities as well as Nigel the Pelican who was also fantastic. The turtles return briefly but aren't given enough to make a good, memorable mark on the movie. Now if you take that many characters and fail to replace them with equally as good new members, you are going to notice it. Hank the Octopus as well as Bailey the Beluga and Destiny, a Whale Shark all do a good job but none are as funny, likeable or as enjoyable as the previously mentioned characters from 'Nemo'. This does hurt the film quite a bit as you want more interesting characters but the film just doesn't quite deliver them.

I know this review may sound negative and that I didn't like it but that most certainly isn't the case. The humour of the first is still there as Ellen DeGeneres and Albert Brooks are great once again bouncing off one another. As it is Pixar, the film is enjoyable for all members of the family and does a decent job at catering for everyone. The jokes do land a lot of the time and you don't really get sick of anything including Dory still being forgetful which could've gotten highly irritant.

Pixar really show once again why they are at the top of the animation world with yet another stunning looking movie. 'The Good Dinosaur' last year faced some criticism for it's characters looks next to the realistic settings. 'Finding Dory' does a great job at balancing them both with new characters who look incredible. None more so than the Octopus Hank and you can tell that the animators had a great time with this character. With Hank's camouflage abilities, they were able to morph him into many different locations which all look fantastic. Top quality once again from Pixar.

Overall, 'Finding Dory' isn't up to the same standard of Pixar greats like Toy Story and the original Finding Nemo. Does that make it a bad film? Most definitely not. It is enjoyable with dazzling animation that should entertain the whole family.

Final Verdict = 

So have you seen 'Finding Dory'? If so what did you think of it? I hope that this review was useful for if you were planning on seeing the movie and if you do choose to see it, I hope you enjoy it! Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my review, it is much appreciated!

By Angus McGregor

'The Jungle Book' Review

The latest Disney animated film from your childhood to be brought into live action is 'The Jungle Book'. Directed by Jon Favreau, this adaptation promises to be a visual masterpiece with all but one character being made up entirely by CGI effects. But would this be the only pleasing aspect of the film and would it be able to bring the life that the Disney animated version was able to do successfully? 

Raised by wolves since losing his father at a very young age, Mowgli (Neel Sethi) must leave the pack after he is threatened by the fearsome Shere Khan (Idris Elba) and is putting those close to him in grave danger. Mowgli is lead away by the wise panther Bagheera (Ben Kingsley) whom he becomes separated from. Due to this he encounters many creatures including deceiving snake Kaa (Scarlett Johansson) and then his protector and friend Baloo (Bill Murray). Mowgli will learn valuable life skills from his journey leading to him deciding to go back and face Shere Khan and end his reign of terror.

It does seem quite odd that this is the first of two live action 'Jungle Book' movies to come in the next few years with Andy Serkis bringing the tale to life once again in 2018. However if it is as good as Jon Favreau's creation, I'm all for it. Favreau has brought us an adaptation of a film that has been made numerous times but never to this calibre.

This film is one of the most impressive in the history of cinema when it comes to the special effects. It is hard to believe that this film wasn't shot in these locations and that it is all special effects to create this very realistic version of the jungle. Everything in the jungle looks incredible from the trees to the rivers that flow through the jungle. It's so visually impressive that you don't even think its visual effects- it leaves you adamant that you are actually in the depths of the jungle.
Another part of the visuals that is so impressive is the details of the animals within it. Again, everything looked incredibly realistic with some standing out more than the others. Strangely I was particularly blown away by how great the porcupine looked and was sure that it was the real thing. The detail on the wolves as well were especially outstanding and true credit is deserved to all who worked on bringing these creatures to life. A visual masterpiece.

'The Jungle Book' also features some very well done action scenes. Everything was clearly visible and you didn't miss out due to loads of quick cuts and I feel it was done very well. If you have seen the trailer for the film, you will see Baloo and Shere Khan running towards one another looking at a potential square off. That scene in particular is pretty epic and one to look forward to seeing.

Luckily the film wasn't just down to great visual effects. The voice castings for this film did not disappoint at all with all members doing a great job. Ben Kingsley was phenomenal as the wise panther Bagheera and was a great mentor and protector to Mowgli throughout the whole film. His calm portrayal and excellent delivery was perfect for Bagheera as he kept Mowgli safe and out of the clutches of Shere Khan. Speaking of Khan, Idris Elba was menacing as the vicious tiger who wants to get rid of Mowgli so desperately. He was the perfect voice to bring to this fearful creature and the combination was a great match.

 Bill Murray was great as Baloo and brought a whole load of fun to the film in what was a great reincarnation of the film. Murray's comedic delivery and timing was on show throughout the run time and truly proved to why he was the correct casting. It would of been a tough job to take over as one of Disney's most beloved characters and if it had gone wrong, Murray would've most likely of been crucified by many fans. Fortunately that wasn't the case.

 Scarlett Johansson was also good as Kaa the python. She did a great job as the seductive snake who draws Mowgli in with her hypnotising eyes and charm. Christopher Walken played King Louie which was highly entertaining to listen to whenever he was on screen. Albeit I wasn't a huge fan of the look of King Louie in this adaptation, I do feel that Walken made the character better.

Although the voice acting in the film was pretty great, I can't say that I overly enjoyed the new versions of the classic songs. The Bare Necessities was fine but I don't feel it was nearly as fun as the one in the animated film. I wasn't a big fan of Christopher Walken's version of 'I want to be like you' and feel it was vastly inferior to past renditions.

As a whole the live adaptation probably isn't as fun as the animated classic. However it doesn't try to be and is much more intense. There were many times when I could physically feel people in my row jumping in their seats due to what was happening on screen. If you are expecting this film to be all happy, you won't get that throughout the whole run time. I'm not saying its devoid of this but there are certainly some very intense scenes. Intense to the extent that I'm unsure that this would be perfectly suited for little kids as it may be too much for them at certain points.

Neel Sethi definitely does deserve credit for his role as Mowgli in the film. For your film debut to be in a film that is entirely CGI must of been really challenging. The fact that he would of had nothing to really act against for most of the shooting really makes this an impressive performance especially from an actor of such a young age.

Impressive work from Neel Sethi

Final Verdict: The Jungle Book = B

A very good adaptation of 'The Jungle Book' following mainly the same tale. A visual masterpiece with great voice acting that is most definitely worth seeing!

So have you seen 'The Jungle Book? If so what did you think of it? If you haven't seen it, I hope this review has maybe influenced your decision to go see it! Once again thank you for reading, it is much appreciated!

By Angus McGregor

The Huntsman: Winters War Review

'The Huntsman: Winters War' is the second live action visit to the world of Snow White but this time the story isn't based on the fairest one of them all. It is the sequel to 'Snow White and The Huntsman' which was highly successful at the box office. There is a high chance that 'Winters War' could also be a commercial success worldwide but would the film actually be any good?

When tragedy strikes, Ice Queen Freya (Emily Blunt) decides to leave her sister Ravenna (Charlize Theron) as well as Ravenna's kingdom to move to the north and pursue a kingdom of her own. Whilst doing so she plans to raise children to become Huntsman to protect her. She also teaches them to not to fall in love out of bitterness due to what happened to her. However when Eric (Chris Hemsworth) and Sara (Jessica Chastain) look to defy her, she tries her best to split them and keep them apart from each other. The sisters start to develop a rivalry leading in events between the two to escalate very quickly.

The two Queen sisters Freya and Ravenna

The main reason that I wanted to see this film was due to the abundance of talent in this film. The four on the poster are some of my favourite actors and actresses working today so I was interested in this film for that sole reason. I'm happy to say that I left the film pleased with the performances and none more than Emily Blunt. Her character was by far the most troubled and Blunt's performance showed the troubles the character faces extremely well. The character was clearly suffering and used this to drive her towards building a successful and ruthless kingdom. I would say that Blunt's performance in 'Winters War' is a great addition to her ever growing reputation.

Jessica Chastain was another stand out in this film for me as Sara who was a strong female character in this film. A very badass character who is more than capable at holding her own and is also very clever. A good character to add to the list of great, strong female characters in recent years. 

Emily Blunt as The Ice Queen Freya

I was surprised to see Nick Frost- known for the likes of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz- to appear as Nion, a dwarf in this film. Thankfully he brought great comedy to the film that did add a bit of life to the earlier parts of the film which it definitely needed at points. The comedy was also helped by fellow dwarves Gryff (Rob Brydon), Doreena (Alexandra Roach) and Bromwyn (Sheridan Smith). The quartet bring great humour including a fantastic scene where Bromwyn and Gryff exchange insults that were truly great. The love-hate relationship between the two is highly entertaining as it develops throughout the film. 

I would say that Charlize Theron was underused in this film for sure. We have seen how great she is and she was one of the main reasons to why I wanted to see this film. However I was disappointed that she was only in the film for a short time at the start and then only reappears once again at the end. I would've liked to have seen more of her in the film. When she was on screen she was good but not in it quite enough for my liking.

Charlize Theron returning as Ravenna

The visuals in 'Snow White and the Huntsman' was deemed good enough that it was nominated for an Academy Award for Visual Effects. The effects in this film are fantastic and really make this world look really beautiful. I was taken back by the animals in this film due to how realistic they looked in the film. I also loved the look of the animals that they combined with plant life such as turtles and snakes. They looked incredible and as if they were actually real creatures rather than just a fantasy creation. 

The action scenes in this film had both good and bad moments to them. I really enjoyed most of the fight scenes as they weren't completely one sided showing that the characters weren't indestructible and could easily vanquish their opposition. The action was also filmed fairly well with wide shots showing great detail to what was going on. However there were moments in the film where the action scenes had far too many fast jump cuts that made some parts of the action hard to watch. This was a problem at parts as you were intrigued enough but just couldn't keep up with the fast cuts making it a real test to watch at points. 

The two queens had an abundance of powers, some making more sense than the others. The abilities that some fantasy characters get to change clothes instantly has always amazed me. There is a particular power that Freya possesses whenever she puts on a magical ice mask that is quite odd. Ravenna also posses some powers that are questionable but I guess with what is going on in the comic book universes, anything is available.

There is one last thing that I want to talk about and that is the accents. Being Scottish I absolutely have to talk about them as it seems as if that is what both Hemsworth and Chastain were trying to pull off. They weren't terrible but at times it was definitely overdone to the extent that it was hard to understand what was being said. I can only imagine what those who aren't used to the accent thought of it!

Sara (Jessica Chastain) & Eric (Chris Hemsworth)

Final Verdict: The Huntsman: Winters War = C+

I enjoyed this film a lot more than I ever thought I would. I was very surprised at this film and most definitely feel that there are a lot of things to enjoy from this film. The cast do a good job and in my book is a good addition to the world of Snow White.

So have you seen 'The Huntsman'? If so what did you think of it? If you were planning on seeing this film, I hope this review helped make your decision. Once again thank you for reading my review, it is much appreciated!

By Angus McGregor

Zootropolis Review

'Zootropolis' or 'Zootopia' depending where you are in the world is the latest movie to come from animation juggernauts Disney. 'Zootropolis' is set in a world completely inhabited by animals and more precisely a large city with the tittle name. This concept has worked for Disney in the past but would 'Zootropolis' continue that run of form?

The city of Zootropolis is home to mammals of all sizes from enormous elephants to the smallest shrews. Predators and prey now live together in perfect harmony. The city has a new police officer in Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), the first ever rabbit to be a cop. Instantly she isn't given any help from her new colleagues and nobody believes in her true ability. However, when some predators start to go missing, it is questioned if the predators can be trusted. Judy offers her services to look for a missing otter but she has a time limit. If she fails, she loses her job. To do this she will require the help of Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), a cunning and sly fox. An odd pairing will need to leave their differences a side in order to crack the case for Zootropolis' sake. 

Now most of the time when a Disney film or any animated film comes out, a lot of people will dismiss it claiming it to be only for children. To be fair there are a lot that will come out solely for children's entertainment. However you also have the films like Inside Out that albeit animated are arguably just as suited for adults due to the story lines and key messages throughout. Zootropolis most definitely stands in the latter category. There's no doubt that kid will be entertained by this but adults will also appreciate it's humour and it's maturity in its story. The film tackles an issue that is very clear to see in today's society. That issue being discrimination. The predators are discriminated in this due to actions of a small selection of predators. Now with the recent attacks in Paris and Brussels, how similar does this seem to real life right now? With a lot of innocent people being blamed for actions of certain lunatics all due to ones race, nationality or beliefs. The film reflects the real world pretty perfectly and is brave to tackle this issue. It is also very important to be teaching kids from a young age that this is not ok and shouldn't be done. By teaching them this at a young age is vital as in essence, it will be creating a better world for tomorrow.

That's not the only message within the film. Judy Hopps is shown to have wanted to have been a police officer since she was a little girl and from day one was always told that she wouldn't make it. However she never once gave up on her dreams and continued to work her way to reach her goals. Another great message for the audience both young and older: you can do anything you want and don't let anybody tell you otherwise. What a great message for children especially as they may look at the character Judy as being much smaller but won't let anything stand in the way of her dreams. The will and determination from Judy when everyone was against her shows that anything is possible if you really want it.

The inspirational Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin)

Now what Disney have done phenomenally well is combining these deeper messages with fantastic humour. The movie is laugh out loud funny which is something a lot of comedies this year have actually struggled to do. There are many times where both children and adults will find hilarious showing a brilliant mix of humour for all ages to enjoy. There are some surprises throughout the movie that really hit and will make you laugh out loud. Particularly funny moments for myself involved the Fennec fox looking animal as well as the incredibly funny sloths I cannot fault the comedy at all in 'Zootropolis', some truly great work from the writers.

The incredibly funny sloths were a highlight in 'Zootropolis'

The film is thoroughly entertaining throughout the run time and I can't see why anybody would get bored from watching this film. This is mainly down to how well the two leads play off one another in 'Zootropolis'. The unusual pairing are great to watch as they bicker constantly at the start of their partnership. As the duo grow closer and learn more about each other, they become a very efficient and entertaining team. Credit has to go to both of the voice actors Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman. Goodwin was perfect as the sweet innocent little bunny who just wanted to make a difference. She was fantastic as Judy and worked perfectly alongside Bateman's Nick Wilde. Speaking of Bateman, the casting for him to be the clever fox really is one of the best choices for an animated character. He provided the wit that was vital for the character and was magnificent throughout. The chemistry between the two worked perfectly to delight of all the viewers.

Great work from both Bateman and Goodwin for the main characters

It was also fantastic to see a world completely inhabited by animals as if they were humans. It was great seeing all the different aspects of the worlds due to the specific regions such as Tundra Town or in the Rainforest District. Some regions were more exploited than the others which may of been done to leave other areas to explore further in potential sequels. I would've liked to have seen more of the different areas but I can see why possibly they have limited it for now. It was still great seeing how many different animals would go around day to day life such as how transport would work for many different creatures. This lead to some highly entertaining short scenes that worked to great effect.

Final verdict: Zootropolis = A

A fantastic animated movie from Disney that is both hilarious and tackles some serious issues in the world today. A must see for everybody. 

So have you seen Zootropolis? If so what did you think of it? If you plan on going to see it, I hope this review has helped you choose to see it and hope that you enjoy this movie as much as I did! Once again thank you for reading my review, it is much appreciated!

By Angus McGregor