Tag Archives: movie review

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace Review

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As an avid movie enthusiast and Star Wars lover, I thought it was best to review the beloved series, starting off with the first prequel, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace! For background knowledge, Star Wars is a film saga of family/sci-fi movies created and directed by the renowned George Lucas. I will be exploring the different aspects of Episode I below.

Plot & Story:

Crisis! The Trade Federation, a powerful economic organization, has blockaded the peaceful planet of Naboo to take control. Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, two space warriors known as Jedi, go to Naboo with the goal of negotiating the end of the blockade and protecting Padmé Amidala, the planet’s queen. Once they get the queen to safety and escape, they find a young enslaved boy named Anakin Skywalker who shows potential as a Jedi. Once they leave the planet, Qui-Gon brings Anakin along for Jedi training because he thinks he is meant to restore balance to the Force. The Force is a supernatural ability that allows users to have powers of telekinesis (the ability to move objects with your mind), sense the future and feelings among other abilities. As the battle against the Trade Federation escalates, the Jedi fight against an enemy warrior named Darth Maul. Subsequently, they arrive on Coruscant, the capital of the Galactic Republic. Queen Amidala appeals to the Senate to end the invasion of her planet, but Senator Palpatine informs her that it is unlikely the Senate will act and the Chancellor is powerless to help. Senator Palpatine advises her to push for a vote of no confidence in the Chancellor, meaning the legislative branch votes to remove and replace the executive. Ultimately, by the end of the film, this leads to the election of Chancellor Palpatine, due to a strong pity vote generated by the invasion of his planet. Next, the queen returns to Naboo to fight back with additional reinforcements. The movie ends with Darth Maul killing Qui-Gon in lightsaber combat, Obi-Wan Kenobi defeating Darth Maul, and Anakin starting his path to become a Jedi.

Music Score:

The music in Episode I was written by the iconic composer John Williams, the man responsible for the legendary Star Wars music in the original three movies. Taking inspiration from the orchestral suite The Planets by Gustav Holst, specifically “Mars, the Bringer of War”, Williams crafted an unforgettable soundtrack. My favorite piece from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is “Duel of the Fates.” It plays during the battle between Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Darth Maul. The song starts quietly and has the effect of making one’s heart race due to its fast-paced nature and dramatic chanting from the choir. The rhythm makes the battle feel emotional and dangerous, marking the turning point in the movie, as it determines whether the two Jedi will defeat Darth Maul. I also have a personal connection to the song because my older brother performed “Duel of the Fates” at Segerstrom Center for the Arts with his district’s honor orchestra in the front row, which explains even more my deep love for this work of art.

Ultimately, I enjoyed watching Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace and highly recommend watching the trilogy in the order of episodes I-VI. There is more to come, as I’ll be reviewing the other Star Wars episodes every month, so stay posted! I hope you enjoyed this blog and watch the movie if you haven’t before!

– Sophia B.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

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The first impression I got from watching the quirky, animated stop-motion film “Fantastic Mr. Fox” is that it’s a fun, lighthearted film about clever animals and the angry, vengeful farmers who seek to harm them. The film follows Mr. Fox, an ex-thief, who cannot help himself from returning to his old ways of stealing food, despite the promises made to his wife that he would try to live a safer, more quiet life. When Mr. Fox does finally give in to his wild nature again, his actions put his family and friends at risk and causes chaos to erupt. Even though the film has many laughs and is action-packed, it also is a thoughtful and emotional film, especially concerning family, identity and growing-up.

One of the most powerful elements of the film is the relationship between Ash and his father. Ash spends most of the film wanting to prove to his father that he can live up to his idea of exceptional. However, Ash continually feels like he is being over-looked by his father, especially with the arrival of Kristofferson. Kristofferson is naturally talented and appears to be perfect, everything Ash believes he is not. The comparisons of Ash and Kristofferson cause Ash to feel insecure and believe he will never be good enough in the eyes of his father.

This dynamic of comparing oneself to another person that appears to be superior is particularly relevant to teenagers today. With so many avenues to compare ourselves to others , it is easy to fall into the trap of believing you are inferior. Ash’s frustrations aren’t simply jealousy, it is the fear of never being able to measure up to his father in whatever way he sees fit. His struggles reflect the common pressures teenagers deal with daily, which include figuring out who they are while being compared to everyone around them.

What makes the film “Fantastic Mr. Fox”, so powerful is that it does not suggest that the pursuit of perfection is the ultimate goal. Ash does not become Kristofferson, nor do I think he needs to. Instead, Ash begins to realize that the things that make him different (even the awkward and messy aspects), are the things that provide him with confidence and strength. At the same time, Mr. Fox begins to understand that being “fantastic”, is not necessarily about standing out above all others, but rather about providing for those who depend on you.

Ultimately, the film presents that growing-up is not about finding someone new to become, but instead finding your own sense of self and accepting yourself for who you already are. For teenagers dealing with the pressure of expectations, comparisons, and complex relationships with their parents, “Fantastic Mr. Fox”, provides a gentle reminder that one’s identity is not something earned, but rather something that grows as you mature.

Review: Kill Bill (Volumes 1 & 2)

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Kill Bill (Volumes 1 and 2) is a series of action/thriller movies directed by the renowned Quentin Tarantino. After watching Volumes 1 and 2 of this cult classic twice, I’ve decided to thoroughly rate the movies based on two aspects.

Plot & Story:

The movies’ premise is that a pregnant woman known as “The Bride” used to be a former assassin, but gave up her job for a normal life. Her former lover, Bill, and his posse of assassins attempt to murder her on her wedding day. Four years later, she wakes up from a coma, determined to get revenge on all of them. They made her lose her unborn child, her whole wedding party, and four years of her life. After making a hit list of everyone involved in the massacre, she gets her justice and ends her enemies. At the end of Kill Bill Volume 2, The Bride finally arrives at her last destination, Bill’s house. There she finds her little girl with Bill, who kept her safe all along. However, she knows what she has to do. Bill and The Bride battle each other, but in the end, The Bride wins and gets to take her daughter with her. I would rate the plot and story a solid nine out of ten because of the action and emotional aspects.

Musical Score:

The musical score of Kill Bill is masterful and I’d say it is one of the greatest film soundtracks. Each song plays with your emotions, making you feel fear, suspense, and excitement. My two favorite songs from the soundtrack are “The Lonely Shepherd” by Gheorghe Zamfir and “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)” sung by Nancy Sinatra. “The Lonely Shepherd” is the iconic flute song from Kill Bill. It plays during key moments, especially in emotionally significant scenes that involve Bill. “Bang Bang” symbolizes The Bride’s past trauma and betrayal, which were the main reasons she went on her revenge quest. I would rate this chef’s kiss musical score a ten out of ten.

Overall, Kill Bill Volume 2 is my favorite movie. I’d say that Kill Bill Volume 1 has more action and Volume 2 has more emotional depth and character development. I hope you enjoyed this blog and watch the movies if you haven’t before!

– Sophia B.

Captain America: Brave New World

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Captain America: Brave New World is currently the newest Marvel movie. The movie follows the journey of Sam Wilson, who is the newly appointed Captain America. Wilson tries to live up to the title he has but struggles as a world-altering event are going on. The movie has a great plot that has you questioning what is happening and beautiful action scenes that will put you on the edge of your seat. Rated PG-13 this movie is a good choice to watch with your family.

At the beginning of the movie, we get introduced to many of the characters and the main problem in the movie. This problem is that a genius named Samual Sterns is trying to make the world go against each other. Using his high intelligence, Sterns manipulates others into doing his dirty work, leading countries to the brink of war. This leaves Captain America to bring peace to the world. By the end of the film, Wilson is able to prove himself and save the world from a global disaster.

Captain America: Brave New World is a great choice to watch. The movie had a mysterious plot that left questions as you watched the movie, but got answered as the movie progressed. Another great attribute is the cinematic fight scenes consisting of battles in the sky and on the ground. This provides a sense of thrill and engagement. On the other hand, whenever there wasn’t an action scene I was busy daydreaming. The film really struggles when it comes to entertaining the audience when there isn’t a scene that involves fighting. Overall, this movie is worth the watch even though there may be moments that are boring and long.

In conclusion, the new Captain America movie is not a must-watch, but certainly is worth your time. While this movie may have some boring aspects, I believe the positives of this film outweigh the negatives. In my opinion, the fantastic plot and the well-illustrated action scenes are some of the best I’ve seen all year. Even though there may be some dull parts of the movie such as boring scenes, I still recommend for everyone to watch it, especially if you want to spend some valuable time with your family.

-Matthew R.

Jurassic World

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Overall this is a great movie, here’s why: Firstly, this movie introduces the coolest hybrid dinosaur in my opinion which is called the Indominus Rex. It can camouflage and hide itself from thermal cameras. This was how it tricked the workers into thinking that it was gone. When the workers come to check if it is still there, the Indominus Rex ambushes them and they escape by opening the cage door.

The Indominus escapes after this and wreaks havoc wherever it goes. It killed a lot of the park’s dinosaurs. It turned out that the reason it was doing this was because it was hunting for sport. This is not usual predator behavior, which showed how evil it was. It’s abilities and intelligence really makes it the coolest dinosaur showed in the franchise. In my opinion, the best.

The coolest scene in the movie was when the T. Rex and the I. Rex fight. The T. Rex is being helped by Owen’s Velociraptors. Owen is one of the workers at Jurassic Park who trains Velociraptors. The I. Rex is still winning the fight, but is cornered next to the lagoon. Out of nowhere, the Mosasaur comes and bites on to the Indominus, dragging it into the depths of the lagoon. I really loved this part since it showed how good always beats evil.

I really recommend this movie and I give it a 5/5.

Jurassic World, both the ebook and film, can be checked out from the Mission Viejo Public Library. 

Romeo and Juliet Play

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A few days ago, our class just finished reading Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, and watched both movies. It was…an experience.

I have to put it out there, this was definitely one of the more boring sections in our English Curriculum Requirements. Almost everyone has heard the story of Romeo and Juliet: two children from feuding families fall in love, and love brings them both to a terrible end.

At first when we went to check out the play from the library, I flipped through a few of the pages, and to me (and most other people in my class), the language made absolutely NO SENSE. I tried to process what the author was trying to imply, but every interpretation of what I THOUGHT it meant, was actually very different from what the actual translation was.

Throughout the daily reading sessions we had, my mind always drifted. It was almost impossible for me to focus when the language was so confusing! More questions kept popping up in my head as we read, but the most prominent one was: “How did the people during this time period understand Shakespeare’s unique language?” As we read Shakespeare’s works, we can truly see HOW our language has changed throughout several hundred years (461 to be exact!). Of course, I was thinking this while we were reading during class, which made the homework we had after a lot harder for me, but it was worth it.

Okay, on to the movies. The original one that was published in 1968 was a decent movie. It captured a majority of the plot, and the dialogue was almost exactly the same. I can most definitely say that the new version of the Romeo and Juliet movie was NOT what I expected.

For those of you who don’t know, the new version is a spin-off of Romeo and Juliet, where they are (hear me out) part of different mafia gangs. Could they have captured this any worse? Additionally, the ending was a complete shocker. This movie was quite hard to watch for me, as I feel the director lost the true meaning of what William Shakespeare was trying to convey.

Out of 5 stars, I would give the old version a solid 4 out of 5. Pretty good, but not too great. The meaning was there, although they skipped a few parts. The new version? 3 out of 5. Lost the meaning halfway through the show, but they did a decent job on the spin off, I suppose. 

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Jurassic Park 3 Review

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I believe that this is an excellent movie for many reasons. I think the main reason why is because of the fact that we get to explore an entirely new island named Isla Sorna. In this movie, we see new dinosaurs like the Spinosaurus and the Stegosaurus.

I really like the plot since Dr. Alan Grant is tricked into flying in an airplane to Isla Sorna. While there, they hear a roar in the distance and board back onto the plane and fly away. During takeoff, the Spinosaurus comes running across the road and chips its back. This was an insane moment to see a large dinosaur right at the beginning of the movie. The group falls into a crash landing and land in a tree. The Spinosaurus comes and pulls the plane out of the trees and tries to eat the survivors. Luckily, they manage to escape.

While running away, they come across a T. Rex eating its food. I knew that from the moment the Rex came on screen, the Rex and Spino would fight. The Spinosaurus is my favorite because it absolutely DESTROYED the T. Rex. If the Spino could beat the Rex, what else could it do?

We later find out that the reason Alan Grant got called to fly the “tourists” in was to help them find their lost son. I like this part since it really adds to the suspense and drama.

The group travels the forests of Sorna and come across a bunch of eggs, Velociraptor eggs. In my opinion, the velociraptors are the most iconic dinosaur in the franchise since they make an appearance in almost all of the movies. Sneakily one of Alan’s friends steals a couple of eggs to help fund the digsite operations. The group has no clue he did this.

While on the search for the “tourist’s” son, Alan gets cornered by a couple of velociraptors. Then, out of nowhere, a green gas comes and a boy wearing a ghillie suit comes and saves Alan. It was the “tourist’s” son: Erik Kirby. I really liked his entrance into the movie. After a lot more dinosaur encounters, the group manages to save the “tourist’s” son and escape the Island.

All in all, I give this amazing movie a 5/5.

Jurassic Park III is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

Analysis of John Keating’s Teaching Style

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Dead Poets Society is a touching coming of age story featuring the unconventional teaching methods of John Keating and the impact it has on his students. His passion for educating teens and inspiring them to expand their knowledge beyond the walls of the restrictive school system.

The conversation of a fulfilling, limitless life is so essential to the growth of the boys in the movie, as they come from wealthy, strict families with strategically mapped out plans for these boys’ miserable lives. They are chasing freedom — or even just a little room to breathe and search for meaning in life.

Keating reinforces the need to seize the day or live in the present, as life is a fleeting moment, begging to be appreciated. He challenges the foundation of the school and the suppressive life it fosters. The boys are limited in terms of self expression and identity. They waste their lives, tirelessly yearning for validation from an unforgiving system built on greed, conformity, and misery. 

Knowing his students have been taught to conform without question, Keating turns his classroom into a stage for living truthfully, leading through instruction and more importantly, example. His genuine passion for creativity and poetry is unmistakable in his efforts. He alludes to renowned poets, Whitman and Herrick, to demonstrate his own profound understanding of philosophical insight. Their rich words carry a message of timeless wisdom, eternal in its relevance. He hopes the boys will take control of their lives and seek sincere pleasure.

He further disregards the standard values and structures of a classroom by standing on desks and shouting. He is grabbing the attention of his students and encouraging them to break the barriers of tradition. The school desks resemble authority and standing on them gives the boys the power to practice their freedoms. Keating empowers them to rise above societal pressures to be perfect and shift their perspective on their everyday mundane lives.

This movie is immensely meaningful and worth every two hours and eight minutes. All teens could benefit from hearing this movie’s profound, powerful message. It inspires its audience to consider the current state of their life and how it is impacting their wellbeing.

Dead Poets Society  is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

 

Inside Out 2 Movie experience at Cinépolis

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On the first day of summer, the hottest day of the year, we all piled into our car and headed for the Cinépolis to watch Inside Out 2. 


This theater is very different than the typical theater. We bought the tickets online; no attendants would direct you to your seats. We went to the theater studio for our movie and found our seats. The server came and took our order for dinner before the movie started.

What, you said theater? Dinner inside a theater? Why yes, at this theater, you can order a full dinner and even alcoholic beverages, snacks, and everything else you fancy before the movie. The best part is the recliner padded leather seats, making the experience even more comfortable when watching the film.

After we were done, we ordered our food and got ready for dinner. The light was off, and the movie started playing. I was still determining what to expect since it’s a cartoon movie, which I didn’t think would be any different from the others. 

It was not a typical Pixar movie. The Inside Out 2 storyline picks up where the first movie left off, exploring new challenges in Riley’s adolescence. The way the film showed Riley’s external experiences with her inner struggles shows how human changes and growth shape one’s emotions, and it’s more critical in teenagers.

This combined approach not only entertains but also shows viewers a deeper understanding of everyday emotions through different stages of life. I especially love the little characters that are people’s emotions, such as Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust. 

The movie continues to explore the main character’s emotions, Riley, using these characters, delivering an intriguing journey that blends heartwarming moments with profound insights into typical teen emotions. Through characters like Joy, Sadness, Anger, Embarrassment, and Anxiety, we see the complexities of human emotions.

As expected from Pixar, the animation is stunning and imaginative, with vibrant colors and intricate details bringing Riley’s mind’s internal and external workings to life. Pixar was so good at showing abstract concepts like core memories, personality islands, and the subconscious, making it visually delightful and captivating for audiences of all ages from start to finish.

The film’s success would be due to its characters. They are animated figures with relatable personalities, each with arcs and quirks. My favorite character is Joy. She has infectious optimism and is one of those friends you want on your side. Sadness’s endearing vulnerability and other emotions’ unique traits make them entertaining but deeply relatable, something every one of us experiences as a teen.

The voice cast was outstanding in their performance, adding emotion, depth, and authenticity to these characters, making them much more relatable and real. Through these characters, Inside Out 2 lets us explore complex emotions and topics so that younger viewers can understand and make it engaging for adults. It explores complex issues like identity, changes, and the importance of emotional resilience.

Overall, Inside Out 2 is a worthy continuation of its predecessor, offering an exploration to entertain and teach us about our daily emotional struggles with our emotions. The stunning animation and fun and upbeat storyline make this film memorable and worthwhile to watch with families and friends, especially with your younger siblings.

Whether you’re a fan of the original or new to the world of Riley’s mind, Inside Out 2 is a must-watch. This movie will leave you thinking about your emotions and their complexities long after the film ends. 

Here’s to a great movie experience!

Bella H.

Inside Out 2  is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

The Bone Collector Review

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Recently, I’ve been on a streak of feel good movies or action movies. Movies filled with things like superheroes or family fluff. Despite that, I wouldn’t have picked this movie on my own. But thanks to my CSI class, I got a taste of a new genre and a good movie. 

The Bone Collector is an older movie, coming out in 1999, classified as a crime thriller movie. Following policewoman Amelia Donaghy on her shift, she discovers a murder scene leading her to become involved in a much more intricate case. Despite not wanting to get involved further, forensic criminology expert Lincoln Rhyme does his best to persuade her to help. After heavy convincing, she joins Rhyme and his leading team of detectives and forensics in order to uncover the murderer and next victims. 

The Bone Collector was a super interesting movie. I am not a fanatic for thriller or horror or suspense. If I even sense a single jumpscare, I begin to cover my face and peak out through my fingers. Which is what I did for various moments in this movie. The Bone Collector was not extremely scary, if anything, it was only a slight thriller; but it still had me anxious for something to come out of the screen. Despite that, it was still a fun watch. I haven’t watched a good mystery in a while, so I had a great time tying together pieces of the puzzle and where the mystery was going. The overall motive was interesting, but I just wish it were developed further or had more details. I felt it came out of the blue and wasn’t really developed and not too in depth.  While the movie gained some extra points towards the movie because it had some interesting CSI forensic scenes that piqued my interest, it had some scenes that felt like there were some dead ends, or were unneeded. 

There was just one main thing that irked me throughout the movie: the romance. I personally felt that the romance was unnecessary and even made me feel slightly uncomfortable. In my opinion, the relationship between Donaghy and Rhyme would have been better as a more platonic relationship, even seeming more like a father-daughter relationship. The romance didn’t feel natural and it would have been better if romance hadn’t been included at all. 

Overall, The Bone Collector was a fun movie to watch, while it may have its spots that were dry or unnecessary, the mystery itself was interesting to figure out and the thriller aspect made the movie more appealing. It is a good movie in the end, but if you get scared easily or grossed out easily, I might not recommend it to you. If you like thrillers and mysteries, this movie might be a good one to check out.

-Nicole R.

The Bone Collector is available for checkout at the Mission Viejo Library.