What's on Screen? : The Lego Batman Movie

It's been awhile since we went to the movies, partly because there wasn't anything being shown that we wanted to see. But we were driving past the reduced movie marquee the other day and saw that The Lego Batman Movie was being shown. We've been hesitant to go see it, because movies have gotten rather expensive of late, and the budget doesn't really permit them frequently. But at our theatre the tickets ended up costing about $3 per person. So it was definitely reasonable.

I was a bit uncertain about what to expect when it came to this movie, as I've never watched any of the other Lego movies. But I have to admit that while it definitely doesn't compare to any of the DC live films, or even the animated pieces... as an individual experience...it was pretty good. They don't try to be a DC movie, though they play with the classic ideas that people are used to seeing in the comics.

Batman does Batman. He doesn't need anyone else.

But the film as a whole explores the ideas of community, belonging, and what it means to be part of something bigger. It also seemed to reflect on the ideas different people have about their personal part in anyone else's lives.

And Joker cries! Or at least... almost cries. My favorite part.

My favorite thing about the music though was the soundtrack. The soundtrack was creative as well as great for moving along some of the plot points. It also made some of the ridiculous things funnier. They used clips of classic songs, and made unique musical pieces that played with the concepts being explored in the movie.

I love the song that they play during the end credits and I'm definitely putting the soundtrack on my to acquire list ^_^

What's on Screen? : Moana

I haven't been up to date when it comes to seeing a large number of films of late. But I do have a very soft spot when it comes to animation. No one has done animation as reliably as the Disney studio. It was very interesting when I heard they were going to do a movie based in Polynesia I was excited. Now I know there was a lot of arguments and controversy about the character designs. But I really have to say it was worth the wait.

Now Moana is  a great story. You have a strong female character, general conflict with a small number of characters as the focus. Maui is a charming self centered character, who through Moana's intervention relearns to be a  more positive character. You also have a variety of new looks that have been lacking in most movies.

There are no direct villains in this film, which seems a bit odd. Meaning there is no direct bad guy. There are some characters that are used to move along conflict, and offer action. There's the coconut pirates, and a giant crab.

I give it a huge high amount of stars. And eventually I'll add it to my own film collection, I think.  I hope it's not a spoiler for most of you, but below you'll see my favorite scene in the movie.

What's On Screen?: TMNT

Alright, let's be honest here, we all have a tendency to watch a cartoon now and then. Well this past week I've watched more tv and movies in one go than I have in a very long time. I've been helping kid sit, which means cartoons are a household staple. They help keep the peace. I was actually shocked though, to find out this particular cartoon film came out without much fanfare, in fact I don't think I ever heard about it coming out.

This particular Ninja Turtle film was released in 2007. Which is why it feels even more bizarre to me that I hadn't heard anything about it. Unlike the pure cartoon versions, or the live action type films, this particular movie was computer animation. AT first it seemed like a strange option, but given the date when it was released, the digital animation is done well and is convincing.

The storyline itself seemed a bit farfetched, but when your main characters are gigantic turtles, what else can you expect? It included and 'immortal' general, monsters, random foot warriors, Casey Jones, and April. I was honestly surprised that they included Casey, But I guess over time he's more or less become a fifth turtle.

The character designs were fairly creative stylistically. But they did keep key elements that many fans would associate with various characters. April wore yellow, Casey was still crazy. But  all in all it was a pleasant change from some of the other things I've been watching.

I don't recommend it as something to go out of your way to watch, unless you're really into the turtles. But if you're watching netflix with kids, don't hesitate to put it on as an option they might not have watched yet. Well that's all for today! Have fun and stay magical!

Candy For The Soul

So sometimes when we order something online, we don't always get what we imagine we've selected. In this instance, it's a HUGE difference. But it leads to a cute scene. Enjoy, remember to have your candy ready for next week! Halloween is a lot closer than you imagine.

Reasons Die

This video is beautiful. A bit bizarre at points. But it is unique and has a lovely song. It might not be something I'd have watched usually, I kind of ran into it by accident.

The Passenger

Monsterbox

This video is adorable. It reminds me a lot of Lilo & Stitch. I hope it makes you all smile as much as it's managed to make me smile. Hope you've had a great week, and I hope you're weekend is amazing!

Amy's Torch