Former FBI Director, Robert S. Mueller III, has released his full 700 page report on his investigation into the Trump Campaign's alleged collusion with the Russian Government duing the 2016 Election.
Here is the full transcript:
We're no strangers to love
You know the rules and so do I
A full commitment's what I'm thinking of
You wouldn't get this from any other guy
I
just want to tell you how I'm feeling
Gotta make you understand
Never
gonna give you up, never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry, never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you
We've
known each other for so long
Your heart's been aching but you're too shy to say it
Inside we both know what's been going on
We know the game and we're gonna play it
And
if you ask me how I'm feeling
Don't tell me you're too blind to see
Never
gonna give you up, never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry, never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you
Never
gonna give you up, never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry, never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you
(Ooh
give you up)
(Ooh give you up)
(Ooh) Never gonna give, never gonna give (give you up)
(Ooh) Never gonna give, never gonna give (give you up)
We've
known each other for so long
Your heart's been aching but you're too shy to say it
Inside we both know what's been going on
We know the game and we're gonna play it
I
just want to tell you how I'm feeling
Gotta make you understand
Never
gonna give you up, never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry, never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you
The word "Visionary" is used a lot these days. But only a handful of people in history were truly worthy of that word.
Pablo Picasso. Leonardo DaVinci. Walt Disney. Jim Henson. Chuck Jones. Steve Jobs. George Lucas. Steven Spielberg.
And Stan Lee, who passed away at the age of 95 years old on November 12th, 2018.
As the co-creator of countless iconic Superheros such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, Doctor Strange, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, Black Panther, and so many more, it can be argued that Stan Lee is the grandfather of pop culture as we know it today.
So much has been written about the man and his endearing influence that I feel as though I cannot possibly do him justice. But it's worth a shot.
Stanley Martin Leiber ("Stan Lee") was born in Manhattan, New York in 1922, just seven years before the Great Depression would hit. Lee often said that as a child he was heavily influenced by books and movies about heroism and adventure, especially the movies of Errol Flynn. Throughout High School, Stan Lee enjoyed writing and hoped to one day write the "Great American Novel."
At age 15 in 1939, thanks to connections with his Uncle Robbie Solomon, Stan Lee became an assistant at the Timely Comics division of Pulp Magazine and comic publisher Martin Goodman's company.Lee's first job was not particularly exciting, as his duties included making sure the inkwells were filled. He made his comic debut with Captain America Comics #3 under the pen name, "Stan Lee". Lee said he used a pen name because comics in those days had a low social status, and Stan Lee wanted to be taken seriously as an American novelist when he grew up.
Stan Lee would keep working his way up as a comic book writer. When he turned 19 years old in 1941, he began working with comic book artist Jack Kirby as his interim editior. The 19 year old showed a knack for the field of comic book writing, and eventually became the editor-in-cheif of the company until 1972, when he succeeded Martin Goodman as publihser.
After the War, Stan Lee went back to work at Timely Comics, which was now called Atlas Comics. He wrote stories in a variety of genres including western, romance, science fiction, and horror. By the end of the 50s, Lee became dissatisfied with how his career was going and considered quitting.
By the 1960s, Atlas Comics would change its name to Marvel Comics, as we call it to this day. By this point, DC Comics had revived the superhero archetype and experienced much success with the Justice League of America. In response, Marvel publiher Martin Goodman tasked Stan Lee with creating a new superhero team to help them compete with the Justice League. Stan Lee was reluctant at first, but his wife, Joan Lee, convinced him to experiment with the stories he wanted to tell, since he was about to quit and had nothing to lose.
Stan Lee took his wife's advice, and would go on to publish new comics and co-create many iconic characters along with the help of Jack Kirby and comic book artist Steve Ditko.
These new comics Ditko, Kirby, and Lee published included the introdution of the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, Iron-Man, the Hulk, Black Panther, Doctor Strange, and of course, Spider-Man.
Unless you live under a rock, chances are we all know who Spider-Man is, what his origin story is, what his powers are, and the villains he fights. Spider-Man is without question Marvel's most iconic character. He is their Mickey Mouse. He is Marvel's answer to DC's Superman.
Before Spider-Man, superheroes were godlike beings with extraordinary powers and a clear moral character. They were characters kids wished they could be. Even though Batman had no powers, he was still a multi-millionaire with enough resources and gadgets to do the things he could do.
What made Spider-Man such a breath of fresh air was that he felt like the first superhero kids could identify with. Even though he could shoot webs from his wrists, climb tall buildings and leap in the air to extreme heights, at his core he was still Peter Parker, a nerdy kid from Queens. After he gains spider powers from being bitten by a radioactive spider, Parker originally wants to use these powers for self gain. After his uncle Ben is shot by a robber he fails to stop, Peter feels crushing guilt. He realizes that he must use these powers to help others, and not just himself. The words of his dear Uncle Ben were tattooed in his memory, as well as the memory of all young comic book readers: "With great power, must also come great respopnsibility."
This is another thing that set Spider-Man apart from other superheroes pior. Where characters like Superman were perfect and incapable of error, Spider-Man was this kid who made mistakes and had to learn from them. Superman felt like our teacher teaching us a lesson, while Spider-Man felt like a student learning the lesson. This made Spider-Man feel more real.
This is an example of how impactful Stan Lee and Jack Kirby were to comic books and superheroes. Their superheroes has a sense of depth and realism to them. They had these amazing powers, but still went through the same struggles everyday people go through. And sometimes, the problems are so complicated, that their powers are not enough to over come them.
The comics Stan Lee co-created with Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko not only had colorful characters and exciting action, they also tackled deep philosophical and political issuses, including racism and prejudice.
Many of the characters Stan Lee co-created had made their debut in the 1960s, a time of great civil unrest. It was the decade of the Civil Rights movement, the Vietnam War, and even the assasinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., two of America's biggest heroes.
The 60s were a time when young people began speaking up and demanding change, equality, and civil rights. Lee tackled these issues with X-Men, a comic book series that follows a group of mutants who are treated as outcasts by society. These mutants attend Professor Charles Xavier's Shool for Gifted Youngsters, a school that recruits mutants from around the world. The X-Men vow to fight for equality and peace in an intolerant world.
At the end of each issue, Stan Lee would write a letter to his readers in a column called "Stan's Soapbox". In 1968, Stan Lee wrote this message to his readers shortly after the assasination of Martin Luther King Jr.:
The deeper themes and meanings of the stories of these characters may be a huge factor into why they continue to be a huge part of popular culture to this day. Especially in the movies.
This year was the tenth anniversary of Iron Man (2008), the movie that began the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As I am writing this, there have been twenty films released in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and all have grossed a total of $6 Billion worldwide, and counting!
In 2018 alone, Marvel released Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity Wars, and Ant-Man and the Wasp. Two of those movies have each grossed nearly $700 Million DOMESTICALLY, and nearly $2 Billion WORLDWIDE!!! Avenegrs: Infinity Wars alone has broken the record for biggest opening weekend box office at over $250 Million domestically!
It is so rare for brilliant artists to live to see their work be so widely renouned. Stan Lee not only got to live to see his characters become icons of pop culture, but he also got to see them star in record-breaking box office smash hits. He not only to witness them, he even got to cameo in them!
Everyone knows Stan Lee loves to make a cameo in movies featuring his creations. As I am writing this, he has still filmed at least five more cameos to be released in the near future.
Everytime I go to an opening night showing of the new Marvel movie, the audience always lights up whenever Stan Lee pops up. He has had so many cameos, and they are all memorable and hilarious.
Everyone has their favorite Stan Lee cameo. It's so hard to choose just one.
But honestly, after giving it much thought, I've decided what my favorite Stan Lee cameo is. And it happens to be from one of the most hated Marvel movies: Spider-Man 3 (2007).
It's a very short scene that lasts less than a minute, and it might be the best scene in the entire movie.
It's when Peter Parker is walking down New York City. And he hears on the News that Spider-Man (Parker) will receive the key to the city. Parker, of course, has a lot of thoughts running through his head. One of them is most likely "Really? I'm getting the key to the city? Me? A nerdy kid from Queens?"
And up comes Stan Lee.
The reason this is my favorite Stan Lee cameo is not just because it's a great line in an otherwise mediocre film. This cameo of Stan Lee embodies everything Stan Lee represented, and what hsi legacy means to us.
With his creations, Stan Lee taught us that we all have the power to make a difference. We can make a difference in the world, or a difference in our own communities. No matter what, we all have the power. And we must be repsonsible with it.
Stan Lee taught us that being a hero is not all about having cool superpowers, or colorful costumes. Being a hero is about doing what is right, even when it's hard. It's about believing in yourself, and accepting yourself for who you are. It's about setting aside our own personal desires, and helping those in need.
In dark times, it is natural for us to ask for a hero to come save us. Stan Lee taught us we don't need a hero. We can be the hero.
Stan Lee. Thank you. Thank you for everything. You created a universe. You opened our minds. You unlocked our imaginations. You inspired us to dream. You made us all want to be superheroes.
I used to think we all could use a
neighbor like Mr. Rogers these days.
I
thought we all needed his gentle soul, his big heart, and his simple message of
kindness.
Whenever
I read the News, or merely look at Twitter for a few seconds, it feels like the
world is becoming more cruel, especially America. Whenever I hear something in
the news that outrages me, upsets me, or even makes me feel hopeless, I would keep
thinking of Mr. Rogers, and what he would say or do.
I
just kept thinking, “We need Mr. Rogers”.
That’s
what I thought before seeing Won’t You Be
My Neighbor, the new documentary directed by Morgan Neville about the life
and career of Mr. Rogers, and the behind the scenes stories and cultural impact
of his show Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. On
the surface, the film seems like a typical fluff piece about a famous person.
But it is more than that. It is the story of a man who wanted nothing more than
to help children and make the world a better place.
Fred
Rogers received a Master of Divinity at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 1963.
He originally wanted to pursue a career as a pastor. This changed when he first
discovered an invention called Television, a device that was in millions of
households across the nation. Fred Rogers believed television
could potentially have a huge impact on the culture, particularly in voung
people. He believed it was such a waste for the majority of TV shows be just
people throwing pies at each other. Mr. Rogers took it upon himself to create,
write, star in, and even compose music for his own television show that would
educate children. And thus, Mr. Rogers
Neighborhood was born.
On
the surface, the show seemed like your typical preschool children’s show. It
seemed like it was just some guy in front of a camera singing silly songs and
playing with puppets. But the show was deeper than that. Much deeper. The show taught
children about heavy issues relating to divorce, sickness, death, and even
national tragedies. The show taught children how to cope with difficult moments.
It also taught them that they are special, they are important, and deserving of
love.
Before
seeing the documentary, I thought we all needed Mr. Rogers. I don’t think that
anymore.
I realize now we don’t need Mr.
Rogers. Because WE can all be like him if we choose.
Won’t
You Be My Neighbor made me realize we all have the potential to make a
difference in peoples’ lives. We can all show kindness. And we are all fine
just the way we are.
We don’t have to rely on someone to
make the world a better place. Mr. Rogers certainly did. He took it upon
himself to make it happen. As can we.
Won’t
You Be My Neighbor, just like Mr. Rogers himself, shows us all how important it is to be a
good neighbor.
It feels like yesterday that The Force Awakens came out. When we all saw Rey (Daisy Ridley) walk up that mountain to come face to face with the legendary Jedi Master, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), and held out his Lightsaber to him. As the credits appeared, we were all left wanting more. We were left with so many unanswered questions. Why did Luke run away from the Resistance? Who are Rey's parents? Who is Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis)? Will Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) ever be redeemed? It was a long two years of endless speculation and theorizing from fans.
The Last Jedi has finally been released. And all those questions get answered.... With more questions raised.
As I am writing this, The Last Jedi has already been out for two days. It has made over $220 Million domestically on its opening weekend, alone. So chances are you may have seen it. If not, then I suggest you tread lightly when reading this. I will do my best to not reveal any major spoilers. I will however give some minor spoilers, and even discuss the overarching theme of this film. So if you want to go in the movie completely clean, I suggest you stop reading this altogether. If you don't mind a few minor spoilers, then proceed. But be warned.
The reaction to The Last Jedi from critics and audiences has been.... Interesting. To say the least. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a Certified Fresh rating of 93% from critics, making it one of the highest acclaimed films in the franchise. The audience rating, however, is at an underwhelming 56%. Where the response to The Force Awakens seemed to be overwhelmingly positive (with a little backlash here and there), the response to The Last Jedi seems more mixed. Fans seem to either love it or hate it.
I will admit, when I first saw it , I had mixed emotions. I felt satisfaction, confusion, and a bit underwhelmed. But in the past couple of days, after letting it marinate, I can say with certainty that The Last Jedi is the boldest, most daring, most thought-provoking, most emotional Star Wars film I have ever seen! The film takes you on a roller coaster. It grabs you from the moment it starts, and never lets go!
Where The Force Awakens, directed by J.J. Abrams, felt like a love letter to the Star Wars Saga recalling what we all loved about the Original Trilogy, The Last Jedi, directed by Rian Johnson, feels more like a criticism of it. It challenges us to rethink our viewpoint of the Saga and the Force. Just like Yoda (Frank Oz) told Luke in The Empire Strikes Back, The Last Jedi tells us to "unlearn what we have learned".
When we first met Rey in The Force Awakens, we all wanted to know more about her. She was such an interesting protagonist. She lived in the middle of nowhere as a scavenger, and possessed all these impressive skills. She longed for her family to come back to her on her home planet, Jakku, the desert planet. She was then swept in the middle of this epic struggle between good and evil, the Dark Side and the Light. A lot of what made Rey so interesting was Daisy Ridley's performance. She made Rey so relatable and identifiable, and also gave her a lot of layers. Daisy is even better as Rey in The Last Jedi. At the end of The Force Awakens and at the begging of The Last Jedi, Rey is sent by General Leia (Carrie Fisher) to fine Luke Skywalker to being him back to the Resistance to help them in their fight with the First Order. But Rey's reason to find Luke is to learn more about her place in the Universe, learn about her past, and what her destiny is. I will not give away too much. I will just quote Luke Skywalker here. "This is not going to go the way you think!"
Just like Rey, we also see a lot of development in Kylo Ren. When he killed Han Solo, many fans thought it was impossible to sympathize with him. I mean, he KILLED HAN SOLO! How can you possibly redeem yourself from that? Yet in the movie, Johnson's writing and Drivers' performance manage to do just that. They help us to sympathize with Kylo Ren, and in a way, root for him. He feels uncertain about his place in the galaxy, just like Rey, and feels conflicted between the Dark Side and the Light. He wants Rey to join him, just like Vader wanted Luke to join him. We learn more about Kylo Ren's past, and we see it from his perspective. And we see it from both Kylo Ren's perspective, and Luke's perspective. Literally. And that's all I will say about Kylo Ren. If you want to know more, go see the movie for yourself!
Since his debut in The Force Awakens, Supreme Leader Snoke has been a source of intrigue and debate among Star Wars fans. We know little to nothing about Snoke other than he’s bald, the Supreme Leader of the First Order, and Kylo Ren’s Master. And according to the Force Awakens novelization, Snoke has witnessed the fall of the Old Republic and the rise of the Empire, which means he was around during the Prequel trilogy and the Original Trilogy. Many fans have wondered, is he a new character we haven’t seen before? Or is he someone we have seen before, but deformed? Or is he someone we heard referenced (see the Tragedy of Darth Plageuis the Wise). I won’t give too much away, but I will say that Andy Serkis gives a chilling performance as Snoke. He makes him so threatening and ominous. While Snoke may not be as iconic as Darth Vader or the Emperor, he is still a worthy villain. And depending on what your theory of him was, you will either be surprised, shocked, or underwhelmed. Either way, you will not expect what happens.
When we saw The Force Awakens, we were all so excited to see what Luke Skywalker was up to.... And we were so shocked to see he only appeared for a couple seconds with no lines! Well, I can tell you with absolute certainty that Luke Skywalker has way more lines in The Last Jedi. And man does Mark Hamill deliver! Luke Skywalker is not the same character he was at the end of Return of the Jedi. He's not the triumphant hero we all know and love. He is much older, more cynical, and more world weary (or, galaxy weary?). Rey grew up hearing stories about Luke, and even idolized him. She is crushed to find he refuses to train her. Where Yoda was reluctant to train Luke out of fear that Luke was not ready, Luke is reluctant to train Rey because he feels that the Jedi Order must come to an end. He is still a believer in the Force, but rejects the "Light vs Dark" philosophy from the Jedi of old. He feels guilty over the Jedi Order being wiped out, and the First Order taking over the galaxy. He lives alone on an island, believing he deserves to die. This is a magnificent performance by Mark Hamill. He brings so much depth and emotion to the role that made him a star. If Mark Hamill does not get an Oscar nomination for The Last Jedi, it will be extremely disappointing. He more than deserves the acclaim and awards for his raw, impeccable performance!
It's almost been a year since we lost Carrie Fisher. She is still missed, remembered, and loved by fans all around the world. This is the last time we will ever see her as Leia Organa on the big screen. It was always gonna be a big deal. But Fisher goes out with a bang! After losing Han Solo, the love of her life, Leia is more focused on her duties as the General of the Resistance, which is already dwindling. Leia is strong-willed, wise, decisive, and determined. She cares deeply about the lives of her soldiers, and tries to prevent as many casualties as possible. Whenever they win a battle, where everyone around her is cheering, Leia is focused on the lives lost in the battle, and feels sadness. She also longs for her family to be reunited. She wants her brother, Luke, to return form exile to help the Resistance. And she wants her son, Ben Solo, to return from the Dark Side to the Light. Just like Hamill, Fisher deserves an Oscar nomination. Leia is one of the most beloved characters of all time, and seeing Fisher play her one more time is altogether bitter-sweet, heartbreaking, and emotionally satisfying. We also get to see Leia do something with the Force that has never been done in a Star Wars movie!
We see the return of many classic characters, as well as new characters, the standout being Rose played by Kelly Marie Tran. Since her appearance on the Red Carpet premiere for The Last Jedi, Kelly Marie Tran won our hearts. She is so lovable and charming as Rose. She is sort of like a fan-girl around Finn, and is disappointed to fin that he is human. She makes him feel guilty, and makes him feel motivated to care more about the cause.
Another standout is Laura Dern as Admiral Holdo. She and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) have many clashes over their strategies and philosophies. Where Poe believes in "fight or die", Holdo is more strategic and careful. Where Poe is eager to take down the First Order, Holdo is more patient. She is willing to wait until the right moment to strike.
I just love the diversity of the cast in these new Star Wars movies! I love how for three films in a row, we have had a strong female protagonist take center stage, as well as strong POC characters. So many young fans of different ethnicities, races, and genders are seeing themselves represented on the big screen. Diversity helps make a movie feel more real and reflective of our world. It is so exciting to see the Star Wars Saga be more reflective and representative of our diverse society.
In a time where the country feels divided, and our political discourse feels more toxic, The Last Jedi feels so topical. When the characters talk about never giving up hope and the importance of resisting the First Order, it cannot help but feel like they are speaking to us, as we have our own Resistance against an evil Empire in our own country.
Let's talk about the Porgs for a minute. The best way to describe them is that they are the Ewoks of this generation. Fans will either love them or hate them. They will either see them as adorable, or annoying. They will either want them as pets, or for dinner. If you don't mind the Ewoks, you won't mind the Porgs. Personally, I love the Ewoks, and I love the Porgs! It seems like some fans have a problem with cute creatures in Star Wars because to them, Star Wars should be serious all the time. I disagree. I think Star Wars needs to have some cute moments to balance the serious moments. They are made for families after all. Plus, R2-D2 is cute, and nobody seems to mind!
I want to talk about the characters more, but I don't want to give too much away. And I know that it's already been out for two days. But I feel like there are millions who still have not seen it yet, and I don't want to ruin the experience for them.
But you may have noticed a pattern with Rey and Rose. Both of them are excited to meet their heroes, and are disappointed to find that they are not what they thought they were. That seems to be a huge theme in the movie. The disillusion of your heroes and your beliefs. Realizing that not everything is as it seems. This film takes everything we know about this Saga and this Universe, and turns it upside down. It makes us question everything we thought we knew about Star Wars. And perhaps that is why The Last Jedi is so divisive.
You may have noticed a trend with these Star Wars films under Disney. With The Force Awakens, a vocal minority of fans complained it was too familiar. That it didn't really take any risks or try anything new. But for the story, it made sense. It was to reintroduce us to this world and these characters. With The Last Jedi, some fans are complaining that it is too different, that it takes way too many risks. Why is it so hard to please Star Wars fans?
Perhaps because to fans, Star Wars is more than a series of movies. It's a religion. It's a way of life. If you first watched Star Wars, any of the movies, as a kid, it connected with you. It left an impact on you like no other movie before or since. Many fans of Star Wars were kids when the Original Trilogy came out. And perhaps since then, it has been hard for them to fully accept any Star Wars movie since Return of the Jedi. Even George Lucas suffered backlash from the fans with the Prequels. And he CREATED Star Wars!
Perhaps, in reality, there will never be another Star Wars movie that is universally acclaimed by fans. It seems like every Star Wars movie from here on out will be divisive. Every movie from here on out will have its fans, as well as its critics. And it's because we care.
We care about the universe. We care about the characters. We care so much that no movie will ever live up to our expectation or satisfy us fully. Star Wars connects with all of us at a deep level, but in different ways.
The last scene, without spoiling it, seems to illustrate that. It will be interesting to see how J.J. Abrams ends this trilogy with Episode IX. The ending seems to hint at endless possibilities for these characters. And no matter how you feel about The Last Jedi: love it or hate it, like it or meh, there is no denying you will be anxious for what comes next.
Like the Force itself, Star Wars will never leave us. It will continue to surround us, penetrate us, and bind our galaxy together for generations to come.
There are good movies. There are bad movies. And then there's The Room. A movie so unbelievably bad, that it is practically a masterpiece. It's a movie that gets everything wrong: Directing, acting, dialogue, writing, lighting, costumes, etc. Everything that can go wrong, does go wrong. And yet it is so endlessly fascinating and entertaining to watch.
If you spend your free time watching movie review shows like Nostalgia Criticor Honest Trailers, there's a good chance you've heard of this gem. Written by, directed by, produced by, and starring Tommy Wiseau, The Room is a romantic drama in the style of Tennessee Williams. It tells the story of a man whose girlfriend is cheating on him with his best friend. And there's football involved. For some reason...
It's one of those movies you can't really describe. You just have to watch it for yourself.
So much has been said about The Room. There's even been a book about the making of it written by Greg Sestero, one of the actors in the film. The book was recently adapted in a movie directed by and starring James Franco as the mysterious Tommy Wiseau.
The Disaster Artist tells the story of a young acting school student named Greg Sestero (Dave Franco) who dreams of becoming an actor in movies. One day in his acting class, he meets an eccentric classmate named Tommy Wiseau (James Franco) who has the same dream as him. They both move to Los Angeles together to get agents. But after they are turned down numerous times, they decide to make and star in their own movie together. And that is how The Room came to be. Tommy Wiseau writes the entire screenplay himself, and asks his friend Greg to co-star in it with him. Greg agrees, and they both assemble a cast and crew to make Wiseau's strange vision to life. Will they succeed?
Because this is based on a true story, we all know the answer. They do not succeed. They fail... Spectacularly.
James Franco is perfectly cast as the mysterious and eccentric Tommy Wiseau. He manages to do a pitch perfect impression of him from the voice to the mannerisms. But rather than just do an impression of him, Franco manages to bring a lot of heart and depth to the role. He plays Wiseau as a passionate, courageous artist with an ambition to follow his dream, no matter how ridiculous it sounds. Franco definitely deserves an Oscar nomination for this role.
Dave Franco is also really likable as Greg Serestro, who plays Mark in The Room. He is such a loyal friend to Tommy Wiseau, even when it is difficult for him. He tries to help his friend get his movie made no matter how challenging it is. It's such a special, genuine friendship they have, and you really feel for them. And the fact that it's about a real-life friendship makes it even more heart warming.
The entire cast is great. Seth Rogen is hilarious as Sandy Schklair, the script supervisor of The Room. There are also a ton of cameos in this film, including interviews with celebrity fans at the beginning, that I will not spoil.
What I love the most about The Disaster Artist is its message. The film teaches the importance of following your dreams, no matter how ridiculous they may seem. Tommy Wiseau had a dream of becoming a writer, director, and actor in Hollywood. Because he couldn't work in Hollywood, he decided to make his own movie. And even though it didn't turn out the way he wanted it to, it brought joy to so many people. And it still does. Even to this day, midnight screenings for it at the Rocky Horror Picture Show theater sell out. Not a lot of filmmakers can brag about making movies that are still that popular, even after a decade. In fact, not many people can brag about getting a movie made, period. Hollywood is such a tough, cut-throat business full of rejection. There are so few people that are willing to take such a huge risk to put themselves out there like that. Not a lot of people are willing to put up with it, and yet Tommy Wiseau did. He set out to make a movie, and he did it! And he's proud he did. Even to this day.
In a time where the News is full of cynicism, we need people like Tommy Wiseau, and the message of The Disaster Artist, more than ever. The message that it does not matter what the world thinks of you. It doesn't matter how many people laugh at you or insult you. The important thing is to find what makes you happy, and go for it. There are not a lot of people brave enough to put themselves out there like that. Tommy Wiseau is.
If there is one thing Pixar is famous for, besides making the first ever computer-animated film, making consistently amazing films, and changing the animation industry forever, it's giving audiences the opportunity to look at the world through a different perspective. The Toy Story trilogyshowed us the world through the eyes of toys. A Bug's Life showed us the world through the eyes of bugs. Finding Nemo & Finding Dory showed us the world through the eyes of fish. Wall-E showed us the universe through the eyes of robots. Inside Out showed us the world through the eyes of our own emotions.
Disney/Pixar's Coco shows audiences two different perspectives. It shows us the virtues and values of Mexican culture, as well as the perspective of those who have passed on to the next life.
Everyone has been gushing about Pixar's latest masterpiece. It's gotten amazing reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, and is doing really well at the box office, even beating Justice League! I really don't know what I can add to it other than go see it! But ever since I have seen it, it's been hard for me to stop thinking about it. Coco is one of those films that really sticks with you. Also, I feel like this is not just a great film. It's an important one. It's a film that accurately portrays Mexican culture, and the traditions of Dia De Muertos (Day of the Dead). If this film does well, it would encourage Hollywood to greenlight more films that accurately portray the virtues and traditions of other countries and cultures.
Coco tells the story of Miguel Rivera (voiced by Anthony Gonzalez), who lives in Mexico and is part of a family of shoe makers. Miguel has big dreams of becoming a famous musician like his hero Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt), despite his family's own contradicting feelings. One day, when Miguel breaks into Ernesto's place of burial to steal (I mean "borrow") his guitar, he ends up in the Land of the Dead where he meets his deceased relatives.
I don't want to give too much of the plot away for two reasons. One, you have seen the trailers, you get the idea of what the film is about. Two, there are also some twists that you will not expect that make the film so much more impactful! But I will say this. If the film was made by lesser filmmakers, it would just be about a boy trying to deal with a family member dying. But Coco takes a different angle. Coco is about a boy learning the importance of family. That no matter what your dreams are, you should never forget about your family.
The story reminded me a lot of The Wizard of Oz. In that the main character lives a simple life with their family, but longs for something grander. And with unexpected circumstances, the main character ends up in a fantastical world that is more colorful and vibrant than their own. And they make a journey through this world to meet a powerful and famous figure. And they meet so many colorful and unforgettable characters along the way. And in the end (SPOILER ALERT), they realize the importance of family. Not to mention, they have a dog that joins them along the way.
As Shakespeare once said, nothing is new under the sun. Every single story has been told before at some point. But it is what you add to it that makes it special. And Coco, despite these similarities, is a special film.
The voice acting is stellar ! I love how Pixar made sure that the entire cast is Hispanic, since this film is about Mexican culture.
Anthony Gonzolez is very likable as Miguel Rivera, the main character. He has a good heart, but he's also rebellious. He makes mistakes, but the audience still roots for him. He acts like a normal kid. Miguel could have easily come off as annoying or unlikable, but Gonzolez's acting and the way he is written help make him sympathetic.
My favorite character is Hector, voiced by Gael Garcia Bernal. Hector is a charming trickster, similar to Flynn Rider in Tangled. Like Miguel, Hector is trying to return to the Land of the Living, but for a very different reason. I will not give too much away, as it would be a huge spoiler. But I will say this. When you first meet Hector, you like him because he's so funny and charming. But as the film goes on, you fall in love with him!
The animation is absolutely gorgeous! Pixar continuously raises the bar with the animation in their films. Just when you think they can never top themselves, tyhey always find ways to. And Coco is no exception. The way they design the Land of the Dead is so beautiful, and so detailed. I could actually see this being a theme park at Epcot in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida someday!
And because music plays an important role in the story, there are a lot of songs. And they are all memorable, and all wonderful. Remember Me is a sure lock for Best Original Song at the Oscars.
I cannot think of anything else to add. Coco is just a pure delight from beginning to end! I can barely think of anything wrong with it. It has beautiful animation, lovable characters, an engaging story, and an important message about family.
I guess if there is one flaw about the movie, it's not with the movie itself. But rather what happens BEFORE the movie. That's right. I'm gonna talk about the frozen elephant in the room... Olaf's Frozen Adventure.
Before every Pixar movie, we usually get a seven minute animated short like last year's delightful Piper before Finding Dory. It always made the experience so much more enjoyable. This time however, instead of a seven minute short, Disney decided to tie in an entire twenty minute Christmas special which was also a semi-sequel to their biggest hit, Frozen.
I'm sure by now, most of us are sick of Frozen. What started as a really good, really entertaining Disney musical became a huge phenomenon and money-making machine. And to keep the Frozen hype going before Frozen 2, Disney decided to release Olaf's Frozen Adventure in theaters. The twenty minute special has already received major backlash from audiences, especially in Mexico. Apparently, the special was so hated in Mexico, that their theaters pulled the special altogether, and only play Coco.
While I personally had no problems with the special itself, I can see where others are coming from. I thought it was a cute, harmless Christmas special that really puts you in the Holiday Spirit. I personally think they should have just released it on ABC rather than before Coco. Audiences barely have time, or the money, to go to the movies. They paid to see Coco, not Frozen 2. If it was a seven minute short, it would not have been as big of a deal. But twenty minutes? That's overkill.
Despite the opening act being way too long, Coco is still a pure delight from beginning to end! This is one of those movies you have to see right now! Seriously, what are you doing on your phone? Go see Coco! I don't care if you already saw it! GO SEE IT AGAIN! Right now!
