The Jungle Book (2016): A Movie Review

mv5bmtc3ntuznti4mv5bml5banbnxkftztgwnju0nju5nze-_v1_sx640_sy720_Abandoned in the jungle as a baby, Mowgli, who was raised by wolves, is just trying to be one with the pack. But when his life is threatened by the tiger, Shere Khan, Mowgli must leave to go live in the man village. But on his way he makes some new friends who make him see that doing things his own way may not always be a bad thing and that no matter what he does his jungle family will be there for him when he needs them the most.

This live action adaptation of the Disney classic was amazing on several levels. First, I felt that they did a great job at casting the actors for their respective roles. In particular, I really liked Bill Murray as Baloo. He was hilarious and I could not see another actor doing that character justice.

The movie stuck true to the original Disney telling and even included the songs “The Bare Necessities” and “I Wanna Be Like You”, which have been stuck in my head since we saw it. The CGI was also very well done and there were several times where I was curious about how they created some of the scenes, like when Mowgli was being tossed from monkey to monkey across the tree tops.

Overall, The Jungle Book was a great adaptation from the animated version and a treat for any kid and kid at heart.

Lost in Translation: A Movie Review

The one good thing with having Netflix is now I can watch a bunch of different movies that I may or may not like and not be annoyed that I spent money on a movie I really didn’t like. Not that Lost in Translation was terrible. It was a decent movie, but very strange.

Bob Harris (Bill Murray) is an actor traveling to Tokyo for a commercial gig. In the hotel bar, he meets Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), a young wife who is staying in Tokyo with her husband while he takes a photography job. Both Bob and Charlotte are drawn together by their lack of enjoyment in the city, as well as their lack of sleep. With no end in sight to their insomnia, the two stick together and form a very unlikely bond.

I just didn’t feel like this movie really had a point. Yes, the two don’t like being in Tokyo so they have something in common, but nothing really came out of it. Bob Harris is in the middle of a bad marriage, while Charlotte is 2 years into hers. Both are feeling alone and I honestly was expecting some racey affair to go on between the two of them. However, nothing really did besides a small kiss good bye at the end.

Overall, it was an interesting movie, keeping me wondering if something would actually happen between the two of them, but when nothing did happen I was left wondering why I spent the last hour and a half (really? It felt way longer) watching it. It was really just a feel good movie that shows that you aren’t as alone as you think. Really, I think I got lost in the movie’s translation.

Grade: C

Moonrise Kingdom: A Movie Review

They say that opposites attract. But has it ever occurred to you that the exact opposite is true as well? This theory is put to the test in Moonrise Kingdom, when two outsiders in the social world, Sam (Jared Gilman) and Suzy (Kara Hayward), find each other and fall in love.

With the knowledge that no one understands (or even likes) them, Sam and Suzy decide to run away together. However, their disappearance is quickly noticed, with Sam in the Khaki Scouts — a type of Boyscouts — and Suzy stealing her brother’s portable vinyl player. After a couple of days, the search party, consisting of Suzy’s parents (Bill Murray and Frances McDormand), a local police officer (Bruce Willis), and Sam’s scout master (Edward Norton), discovers their hideout and insists they never see each other again. But true love can never be kept apart and Sam and Suzy will do anything to stay together.

Dubbed a comedy, Moonrise Kingdom was more of a dark comedy than anything and some parts made me think of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (I guess because of the forbidden love aspect). It was a quirky film that made you root for the underdogs. Written and directed by Wes Anderson, this film had a subtle feeling around it. It never forced you to laugh, but told you a story of life as it is, forcing you to see the truth (in a satiric way) about how both children and adults react in certain situations they think they understand.

If you liked Moonrise Kingdom, check out The Fantastic Mr. Fox, Rushmore, The Squid and the Whale, among other films in Wes Anderson’s portfolio.

Grade: A-