Greetings dearest reader,

As you can see, I’m trying a little something new with this post. Lately I’ve been lazing about at home watching movies on Redbox, instead of going to the theaters, so I’ve decided to make a Redbox Haul. So, you know those beauty/make-up/fashion haul videos youtubers make a lot? Well, this is going to be similar to that, but, instead of  reviewing make-up, I will be reviewing movies that I’ve recently watched with Redbox. You can also go out and rent these movies right now.. So, here we go…

The Pirate Fairy (don’t judge):

The newest of Disney’s Tinkerbell franchise, The Pirate Fairy flies along with Zarina, a misunderstood fairy forced into exile when the her fellow sprites stifle her scientific endeavors with pixie dust. Yet when Pixie Hollow is thrown out of balance, Tinkerbell and her fairy friends must turn to Zarina, the pixie turned pirate.

The epitome of conventional children’s fare, The Pirate Fairy is a bit flighty for older audiences. However, the fairy flick passes with flying colors among children who will eat up the colorful visuals and their beloved, six-inch, glittery gals. And older audiences will also be able to appreciate the nostalgic connections to the original Peter Pan of their childhoods.

The Pirate Fairy has succeeded in creating a narrative that is much stronger than Disney’s other multimillion dollar franchises, such as Cars. And overall, the Tinkerbell franchise has fleshed Tinkerbell out, turning her from the simple, jealous nuisance of the original film into a multidimensional, relatable heroine. Her pixie friends, however, remain one-dimensional characters who lack depth and fall into cringeworthy stereotypes that detract from the movie’s “girl power” image. These dull characters and their monotonously predictable actions all create a shallow emotional atmosphere.

Regardless, the film’s hackneyed message of friendship and predictable plot create a forgettable, mediocre film that will never compare to the classic tale of Peter Pan.

My Conclusion: 4/10

ParaNorman:

Chilling, inventive and charming, ParaNorman tells the story of the awkward outcast Norman as he is ridiculed for his creepiness and ability to speak to the dead. However, when a magical storm allows the dead to rise, Norman struggles to save his town from the zombies.

ParaNorman features gloriously grotesque character designs and elegant, carefully hand-crafted stop-motion animation similar to Laika Studio’s 2009 hit, Coraline. The film’s gorgeous visual details, including slight shifts in the facial expressions of the characters, show that ParaNorman was made with both love and attention to detail.

The film also manages to synthesize the opposing genres of horror and family animation to create a unique, sophisticated plot. The touch of horror is also enough to scare and excite the young ones while piquing the interest of the elders.

Additionally, the quirky humor is timed and executed well as its dual nature appeals to many different audiences. For example, the gruesome humor appeals to horror fans while the ghoulish gags appeal more to fans of traditional, family films.

Overall, ParaNorman is intelligent and thought-provoking, even throwing in some lovely historical references. Therefore, the film never insults the intelligence of its viewers and appeals to moviegoers of many different ages and interests.

My Conclusion: 8/10

Snowpiercer:

Powerful and suspenseful, Snowpiercer builds momentum from the beginning and never stops rolling.

In this thrilling gem, the world has been plunged into a new ice age after an attempt to combat global warming goes awry. Now, the survivors are packed into a never-ending train, with the affluent living in luxury at the front and the poor living in the squalor of the back of the train. These poor souls, after surviving indescribable horrors, have had enough and, led by the reluctant hero Curtis, fight to reach front of the train and its enigmatic creator.

The film’s ambitious special effects, gorgeous lighting and strongly-executed violence, create a sleek science-fiction thriller. The fighting scenes too are effortlessly fluid and ingenious.

Also, the striking savagery of the violence is uniquely beautiful when paired with the profundity of the film’s hidden allegorical ideas. Chock-full of symbolism and metaphor, Snowpiercer is just one of those films that you must see to truly fathom its brilliance.

Director Bong Joon-ho spares no mercy as the audience’s beloved, inspiring, multidimensional heroes and heroines are torn away one by one in sprees of blood and gore. Therefore, it is evident that viewers will inevitably become attached to the well-crafted, relatable characters. Additionally, the tenderness amongst the gang of destitute fighters is heartwarming. The depiction of this love, stemming from the shared hardships of the heroes, is the greatest triumph of the film, ranking over all of the stylish effects and mesmerizing fighting sequences.

Striking for both the eyes and the mind, yet able to inject bits of dark humor, Snowpiercer is a deep, evocative must-see.

My Conclusion: 9/10

Veronica Mars:

Veronica Mars is back, but not quite. Now, the ex-teen-sleuth has sworn off her detective days and is determined to leave behind her affluent, yet crime-ridden hometown, to be a lawyer in the big city. However, when Veronica’s ex-boyfriend is accused of murdering his girlfriend Bonnie DeVille, Veronica finds herself sinking back into her detective ways.

Veronica Mars is more of a tribute to the devoted fans of the show than a stand-alone film. Therefore, viewers who are not familiar with the series will likely feel something missing and have a hard time getting caught up to speed with the goings-on of the heroine’s world.  The catchphrases and many of the characters will also easily slide over new viewers’ heads. Regardless, all viewers, despite their familiarity with the franchise, will grow to love the character Veronica Mars who is the same smart, resourceful, witty girl she was in the original series.

Additionally, the plot seems too convenient, yet still manages to be predictable, which is an odd, but unfavorable combination. The film, riddled with an overwhelming amount red herrings, also relies heavily on melodrama to create suspense, especially by resurfacing high school drama and love triangles.

Despite the holes in the plot, Veronica Mars features strong characters with effective character development, especially that of our heroine. However, most likely in order to satisfy old fans, the makers of the film jam-packed Veronica Mars with as many characters as they could fit, regardless of their importance. The resulting jumbled mess of characters convoluted the plot and would likely confuse new viewers.

Overall, the film partially makes up for its weak plot with strong characters, yet the overabundance of characters saturates the film. Regardless, Veronica Mars manages to please the die-hard fans and, therefore, serves its purpose.

My Conclusion: 4/10
“My mother thanks you. My father thanks you. My sister (*cough* brother) thanks you. And I thank you,”

Christine