Reviews

Hail Caesar! is great fun, following the adventures of a group of characters all involved with the fictional Capitol Pictures first seen in the Coen brothers film Barton Fink(but, more than a decade later.) At a few times this is its greatest weakness though, jumping from story to story to story without returning to the last one for a long time. Not to worry though, as almost all of the stories coalesce together at the end.

The stories are all linked by the central character, Eddie Mannix, a fixer for the studio who deals with potential bad PR and assorted other problems. Over the course of three days he has to deal with various troublesome actors, religious moral watchdog groups, a pair of nosy gossip columnists, an old studio scandal, and the main story the kidnapping of Hail Caesar!'s star. All of this while having his own problem of balancing his stressful job and a family at home.

Hail Caesar! is a great look at the movie industry back in the waning studio days of the 1950's. I would have dropped the sailor movie bit as it slows the film down and serves no purpose, but for the most part the film is a hilarious hoot that those aware of the golden days of Hollywood will enjoy immensely.

Dreamworks has brought us another installment to the awesome Kung Fu Panda series, but this time they have made it in conjunction with the Chinese government who co-funded it. The vibrant visuals, whimsical world, and colorful characters that define this series are once again at play and as strong as ever, but with a script that(while competent) is below the standard of the first two.

Picking up where the last film left off, Po's father(Li) returns to find his long lost son. The clash between adoptive father Mr. Ping and birth father Li is a great idea, but not properly played out given the potential. To complicate our hero's life, Master Oogway's old nemesis Kai has returned to threaten the Jade Temple. Kai is not the best of the Panda villains, but his setup is well thought out, and with the increased focus on Po's search for identity, I can't complain.

So why am I rating this an 8 when the story is the weakest of the three movies? Simple, Kung Fu Panda 3 has beautiful imagery, superb direction, and stunningly choreographed fights(true visual artistry.) All of which rival the previous two films or surpass them. The 3D is expertly worked in, and truly adds to the films enjoyment. If you like the Kung Fu Panda series, then check it out, but don't expect the narrative heights of the last two.

Krampus, that half goat/half man companion of Saint Nicholas finally gets his own movie after being left in the winter(themed movie) cold for too long. For those unaware, in ancient lore(not this film) Krampus is the stick to Santa's carrot. When Krampus comes to town, he rewards the bad children with severe spankings, and the exceptionally naughty children with a trip to his home for dinner(his dinner that is. )

A mix of comedy and horror, Krampus is a wickedly fun twist on the traditional holiday dysfunctional family film. The horror is usually more comedic then horrific and the movie focuses more on the family drama and terror of what might/has come, than constant attacks. This is not to say it does not have chills, simply that when we do get them, the horror is more keenly felt because we have come to know these people, and the atmosphere is never excessively oppressive(it is Christmas after all. )

The film starts with the well to do liberal Engel family preparing to host poor conservative aunt Linda and uncle Howard, along with their four spawn. Drunkard aunt Dorothy tags along uninvited, and things start to look decidedly UNmerry for Christmas this year. When young Max tears up his letter to Santa, he inadvertently summons Krampus and his helpers. He brings with him a snow storm first to isolate them, then absconds with the naughty family one by one. The Engels must learn the true meaning of family and togetherness if they want to survive this year.

With its emphasis of family, compassion, tolerance, understanding, and love, Krampus is decidedly a Christmas film, and may even leave you feeling a little nice after having seen it(along with being creeped out.) Scary, but never TOO dark, and very funny, I can safely say I have found a new Christmas movie to watch at this time every year. If you enjoy dark humor, scares, and are looking for a little Christmas cheer(??) then check it out.

Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny… AAAHHH….. This film is a delightful(if you have been lobotomized that is) piece of cinema that was made at the now defunct amusement park Pirate's World(not that you see much of it.) The movie is such an insipid piece of fluff that they had to insert another of their films into it to liven and or pad it out. Almost nothing happens, and the little that does is poorly conceived and executed.

The plot is stupidly simple, Santa Claus loses his reindeer and is stranded in the worst place imaginable, Florida! He enlists the help of a bunch of local children to pull his sleigh out of the sand and eventually decides to tell them a fairy tale story. The story he tells varies depending on the version you are watching, and is the best part of the film, which is not saying much since both fairy tales are bad.

This film is the second worst piece of garbage I have EVER SEEN! Insipid, inexplicable, imbecilic, and ignominious, Santa Claus and the Ice Cream Bunny deserves nothing less than the lowest rating I can possibly give it, one star on IMDb(equivalent to a negative 0 out of 4.) Avoid this toxic waste of a film at all costs!

Atmospheric, lavish(in a good way,) and creepy, Crimson Peak is a slow burning thriller with nicely developed characters and tension between them. Set in 1897, the film makes splendid use of the period look, along with the dour, sinister, yet lush and beautiful looking key set piece that is Allerdale Hall. Mr. Del Toro shows us he hasn't lost his touch for visual flair with superb asides to directorial styles of past filmmakers to great effect. Excellent acting and a gripping score help sell the picture, but the gore and blood themes feel a little too over the top given the focus on suspense.

The movie opens with aspiring writer Edith Cushing assuring us that ghosts exist, and that she can see them. They are in the film but this is not a movie about the dead, instead the living are the primary focus(this is not a bad thing if you are worried.) Edith marries eligible bachelor Thomas Sharpe, and moves into his ancestral home where his sister also resides. With the mysterious siblings, and a haunted house, Edith's stay is going to be more than she expected.

The slow buildup of the movie gives us an increasing tension, and a weighty sense of dread, but I feel it was just a little bit too slow, or lacking on…. something additional. All in all, an enjoyable suspense film that is a visual treat, although, not one of Mr. Del Toro's better works. Worth seeing, but I've seen better in the genre.

Ummmm…. wow. I just don't know what to say about this. So much so, that I am not using a quote from the movie for the review title as I normally do. OK, here goes. Miami Connection is a strange… VERY STRANGE cheesy 1980's movie with, martial arts, a 1980's rock boy band, ninjas, and guys hanging out. If that sounds like it works together, CONGRATULATIONS! You are wrong. Despite the fact this film is just awful…… I can't make myself look away(Just like a train wreck.) Bizarre gore, nonsensical plot, unnecessarily shirtless guys, bad rock songs, a limp romance, a forced long lost father subplot, awkward bromance, disembodied voices, inept fight scenes, horrible acting. What a hilarious mess.

Anyways, the plot. What plot? _ XD _ Seriously though, a taekwondo rock band irritates the former band for their club and it escalates from there to them being targeted by a gang of drug dealing ninjas. It would just get dumber if I fleshed out the little story there is any more than that.

So, to sum Miami Connection up, if you enjoy cheesy Z or B movie train wrecks, check it out and prepare for a good laugh, you will not be disappointed. For everyone else, you have been forewarned.

Once again Aardman puts even the big animation studios to shame with the consistent high quality execution that goes into all their theatrical releases with their latest film, which sees the first feature length outing of children's show, Shaun the Sheep. For those unaware of Shaun the Sheep, the comedy series centers around the misadventures of a group of farm animals all told with minimal to no dialogue(quite difficult if you think about it.) Running at a brisk 85 minutes, the film wastes not a single second, as all scenes play out pitch perfectly to achieve the story or comedy with no excess time spent. Despite being child friendly, the movie is also quite funny for adults. As for the animation, Aardman is back to their familiar and beloved stop-motion animation, and it has that great Aardman flair.

In the film, Shaun is once more bored with farm life and schemes to get a little fun while the farmer is not looking. Unfortunately things go awry and the farmer is stuck in the big city with amnesia. Together the sheep and Bitzer the dog brave the busy streets and animal containment officer Trumper on their quest to reunite with the farmer.

For sheer enjoyment I would rate this a nine, but then, when you think about how all this is done with NO DIALOGUE, it just helps to emphasize all of the exceptional work they have achieved here(bumping it up to a perfect ten.) It has minimal story, but this is first and foremost a comedy, and an excellent one for the whole family.

Once again Akira Toriyama demonstrates that he is best qualified to write for Dragon Ball with his screenplay for Resurrection F. A strong following after the great Battle of Gods. Mr. Toriyama excels, giving us an action vibe rather than the screwball comedy from the last. In other words, back to typical Dragon Ball Z form after the change of pace from the previous entry(it is always good to mix it up every now and then.) With awesome battles, and a best of the Z fighters, it is win-win for Dragon Ball Z fans. Much like the preceding film, there are callbacks for the fans(the prior movie being more a tribute to Dragon Ball as a whole.) Of course the best call back would be bringing back fan favorite Frieza.

Set fourteen years after Frieza's death, and one year after Battle of Gods, the film starts with Frieza's former henchmen working to revive him. Upon his restoration he wants nothing but vengeance for his defeat at Goku's hands. Unfortunately Goku and Vegeta are not on Earth, so it is up to the other Z fighters to keep Frieza's army at bay until the pair return to start their epic battle with Frieza.

Great fights, impressive animation, very funny, and even some serious bits that add to the sense of palpable danger, Dragon Ball Z Resurrection F is a must see for fans of the series. If you have not seen Battle of Gods before this, then you should(considering Lord Beerus is introduced there.)

Sharknado 2 ups the ante from the first Sharknado with more sharks, more nadoes and more name actors. A marked improvement on the first(both structurally and in cheese factor), Sharknado 2 is consistently campy over the top craziness, with gore, corny dialogue, impossible circumstances, and, of course, SHARKS! Sharknado 2 features many celebrity cameos that are suitably worked into the story, or failing that not disruptive to the film. My favorite was the big name reporters playing themselves reporting about the sharknado.

Fin and April are visiting New York on a book tour(and also to see Fin's sister and her family) when the shark hit the Fin… umm, I mean the S#@T hits the fan. Or as Fin puts it, "even the sharknadoes are tougher in New York." Once again the Shepards must band together to survive another sharknado.

Sharknado 2 is more of what you liked from the first Sharknado. Or more of what you didn't like if you absolutely hated the first one(in which case why are you reading this or watching it?) A movie that knows it's audience, and delivers a superior package of what they liked in the first one. Sharknado 2 is the highlight so far of the Sharknado films(standing at three so far, with an unneeded fourth on the way.) These will never be high art, however absurdist humor never is. As such this movie is terrific absurdist humor… about sharks… falling from the sky.

After receiving(and misinterpreting it to be a declaration of war) a copy of an arcade game competition from 1982 in a NASA probe, aliens attack the Earth by sending copies of arcade game characters in a winner takes all battle for the planet. When a US military base is attacked, the President of the United States calls his old gamer buddy Brenner(who was at the competition in 1982) to confirm his suspicions that characters from Galaga destroyed the base. Soon enough, the 1982 champions are back together defending the Earth against the alien threat.

Pixels is not Wreck it Ralph, but who wanted it to be? Instead it is a bunch of crazy alien invasion fun with a heavy helping of 1980's nostalgia. Peter Dinklage is surprisingly funny as a comic foil, and the rest of the cast are good in their roles. Good but not great direction from Chris Columbus and a funny script. As for the 3D, while it had proper depth, it didn't add too much, but the alien scenes(which account for about a third of the film) did benefit from it.

Despite the fact the Adam Sandler is in this, it's one of Mr. Sandler's better films of late. Not one of the best comedies of 2015, but very far from the worst. Pixels is an entertaining silly comedy, and worth your time.

Sharknado 3 is another wild crazy ride in the Sharknado series. Again The Asylum has put more thought, time, and effort into this entry then the first Sharknado, resulting in another more polished(but undeniably nuts) finished product. Again this is another succession of bizarre gory attacks and silly events with corny dialogue to boot. With the level and sustained energy of B movie cheese seen both here, and in Sharknado 2, clearly The Asylum has figured out what to do with this series. I could do without the celebrity cameos myself, but they do no harm being in there. If they weren't, we would still have characters like those they play in the film, so I see no real problem with them.

The film opens with Fin receiving an award from the President in Washington D.C. and, SHARKS! Oh like you didn't see that coming. Meanwhile, April is in Orlando with daughter Claudia and her own mom May. While enjoying the Universal Studios Theme Park, SHARKS! This time the sharknado is not just a sharknado, IT'S A SHARKICANE! All the east coast is in peril, can the Shepard crew stop the sharks in time?

Sharknado 3 is a greatest hits album of the Sharknado series, and is a load of fun. My complaint would be the fact that while this was very amusing, they pushed things SO far that this should have been the explosive finale. Instead we are promised a fourth which can in no way top the craziness of this one. Here is to hoping that The Asylum has learned from Sharknado 2 and 3 how to make good B movies, and we see more like them outside of our old chums the sharks.

Once again The Asylum brings you another "the title says it all" horror film on the cheap. Surprisingly, it is one of their better projects. That said, it is not that good(most of The Asylum's movies are trash anyways from a B movie standard.) The acting in Sharknado is actually decent for something from this company, and the tongue in cheek nature is in proper perspective. This movie is rife with cheese… unfortunately they can't make up their minds as to being a cheesefest, or a serious piece. Case in point, the grappling down to the bus scene, why is it there? It does nothing for the plot, is absurd yet not campy, and is a lot of artificial drama that goes nowhere. The flick shifts between serious and comical without any clear idea of what it wants to do. Thus the cheese is cut down in enjoyment by the uneven narrative. That's right, even B movie cheese needs a good narrative to thrive(no matter how weird it is).

The plot… well, you saw the title, SHARKNADO! What more do you need? OK, much like the film's antagonists, I'll bite. A half tornado/hurricane, half shark feeding frenzy attacks Los Angeles and suddenly it's raining sharks! Hallelujah it's raining sharks! Surfer dude/beachside bar owner Fin Shepard(yes that's his name) must race against the sharknado to save his estranged family before it strikes them.

Ridiculous, yes, funny, yes, stupid, yes, low budget, you better believe it. But Sharknado lacks the sincerity of Plan 9 from Outer Space, or CONSISTENT intentional farcical nature that defines better B movie cheese. Perhaps this would be a better movie if this wasn't another The Asylum picture made in around two weeks with a script and storyboarding that surely took even less time. As it stands, it is an amusing surreal ride, despite being very uneven and sometimes dull.

Perhaps what can best summarize Cowboy Bebop is one big free style jam session. In Cowboy Bebop, film noir, gangster flick, slapstick, martial arts, thriller, western, horror, screwball comedy, all see at least one episode with heavy influence from said genre. Primarily the biggest of these influences would be film noir and screwball comedy with a dose of action. This may sound like a mess, but it means that Cowboy Bebop gives us something different and wonderful each episode. Of course, this is just part of the show, the music is another element that MUST be talked about. Again, a jam session, the music cherry picks the best of music styles, bringing unique sounds to each episode, all supervised by the eminent composer Yoko Kanno(this was the first Television soundtrack I bought.) What can I say but, WOW. You don't know how good it is until you listen to it on its own. Visually the show has a great flair, terrific animation, and excellent directing that sometimes is evocative of old film noir. They smoke cigarettes, femme fatales, witty banter, tragic tales, a look reminiscent of 1940's America, almost every episode has a gun being fired... how could I not mention film noir?? !!

Wait! I haven't even written about the concept yet. It's 2071, Earth is a wasteland after an accident with the moon, and humanity has moved to such places as Venus, Mars, Io, Ganymede, and the asteroids. Despite this, humanity still goes through the same struggles we do today, gangs, drug use, terrorism, wars, and economic woes. Spike Spiegel is a bounty hunter with a dark past, who uses his martial arts and marksmanship to bring in bounty heads. Together with the pilot and owner of their ship the Bebop, (former police officer)Jet Black, they travel around the solar system in search of the next bounty. Eventually they are joined by the super smart pooch Ein, femme fatale Faye Valentine, and hacker wiz kid Edward.

I personally prefer the English Dub of Cowboy Bebop, but whatever floats your boat. Great animation, Superb soundtrack, good writing, fantastic direction, but most importantly, style! Not your Saturday morning cartoon fare(this aired at midnight in Japan,) Cowboy Bebop is an anime for adults, and well recommended for animation or film noir lovers.

Ian McKellen gives a tour de force performance as the aged detective in the drama, Mr. Holmes. Aided by a great script with and a capable director. Despite nods to Sherlock Holmes in both literature and the Basil Rathbone movies, this is no Conan Doyle mystery(although it is a mystery.) It is primarily a touching character piece about an elderly Sherlock Holmes, his housekeeper Mrs. Munro, and her young son Roger. The slower pacing of the film may put off some, but it allows the story time to shine, while also giving us time to embrace and understand the characters and their world. They don't make them like this very often anymore(which is a shame with so much shiny nonsense that passes for good storytelling).

In the movie, Sherlock Holmes has moved to the country and is in his nineties with failing memory. A poignant reminder that even giants fall before the ravages of time. He is trying to recall his last case, which made him go into retirement, although he cannot remember why. The film cuts between the present(1947) and the past (the sleuth's last case roughly thirty years prior.) This is deftly acted by Ian McKellen with subtle distinctions only a skilled actor as he could. Most of the picture is in the present however, as Mr. Holmes strikes up a friendship with young Roger, who idolizes The Great Detective after reading John Watson's fictionalized accounts of their cases.

A moving look at life, relationships, and our elders, Mr. Holmes provides a new take on The Great Detective, and is a good yarn to boot. Those that only love the current attention deficit films might not appreciate Mr. Holmes, however those that appreciate stories about people will find something to enjoy.

Does Minions have a solid story? NO. Well rounded characters? NO. A touching message? NO. OH WHO CARES! Minions did have one thing in spades, FUN! Those little guys who stole the background of Despicable Me have their own spin off/prequel, and it is everything I expected. Jokes jokes jokes and more jokes surrounding those wacky Minions. I got a lot of enjoyment from Kevin Bob and Stuart, and the zany world they inhabit. The 3D was well used, and you can tell Illumination sunk more money into the animation on this one. Thankfully the wonderfully quirky character designs that made the first two so memorable are here as well(although I would have preferred the backgrounds to have received the quirky styles of the first two as well, but we can't have everything.)

Minions opens with an explanation of the Minions origin, perhaps the highlight of the film is this period of about ten minutes which is a total gem. Flash forward to 1968(the film is brimming with references to the year which may, or may not, add to your enjoyment if you get them) and the Minions need a new evil master. So Kevin, the most intelligent and intrepid of the Minions, decides to venture forth in search of one, aided by the innocent Bob and inept Stuart. The trio meets up with Scarlet Overkill, the baddest villain of them all who takes them into her service.

It loses energy about three fourths of the way through the picture, and is about fifteen minutes too long, making this the weakest of the Despicable Me films. Having said that, it was still a very amusing film that does absolutely no harm to the Despicable Me franchise. This is exactly what you would expect from a Minions movie, a delightfully warped world where those yellow weirdos entertain with their childish antics to bring a smile to your face.

While not perfect(there are parts that could use some improvement) Terminator Genisys is a fun and fairly gripping ride, and a worthy entry to the Terminator franchise. Especially after one so-so installment and another that was a poor excuse for a movie. Solid directing, a good cast, decent concept, and(surprisingly) well developed characterization, overcome the crazy timeline and an OK script to make a great action flick. It goes without saying that seeing the first two films greatly enhances your viewing pleasure. Arnie slips easily into the role we have learned to love, and proves that even an aging star can be in an action picture.

The film picks up in 2025 with the human resistance fighting to destroy our brutal robot overlords and their leader Skynet. At the end of the war, Skynet sends an assassin to 1984 to kill the leader of the resistance's mother(Sarah Connor) and the resistance sends their own champion(Kyle Reese) to prevent this. Things are not as they should be, as the timeline is corrupted from a previous time traveler. So, Sarah and Kyle reason that if the past can change, then why not the future?

I was worried about this when I saw the description, the negative reviews, and some clips, but, fortunately for me, I was dragged to see this. I left the theatre hoping for a next installment, as this has set the stage nicely for the planned trilogy. The character dynamics are strong enough to establish a good base story for upcoming films, and the air of confidence in the work hopefully will persist. All in all, a sound start to what will hopefully be a successful new trilogy. P.S.Wait a couple of minutes through the credits for an extra scene.

While I cannot say I disliked Jurassic World, there were many inept elements and a feeling of been there, done that. The children in distress, dinosaurs on the loose, greedy industrialists, the sensible man no one listened to, where have I seen that in this series of films? It doesn't help that while most of the dialogue is decent, we get the occasional scene of inept writing. Add to that things like, "I'm the Alpha Raptor," a poorly thought out plan for the villain, and an oddly knowledgeable Superdino, and things can get dumb real fast. This isn't to say Jurassic World has nothing to offer. The film is good diversionary entertainment with solid directing. It clips along at a good pace and engages with enough fun and thrills to maintain our interest.

The film picks up twenty two years after the first film. Isla Nublar is now a fully fledged amusement park that continues to see increasingly more patrons and money every year. Despite the exponential success, park supervisor Claire FEELS that the park is in financial hardship and wants to expand the "wow factor." A new hybrid dinosaur(the Indominus Rex) has been engineered to accommodate this desire. As a matter of course, dino chaos ensues shortly thereafter. Claire along with Raptor trainer Owen strive to save her visiting nephews and stay alive in the process.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the dinosaurs. They look very good, befitting the money and time spent on the project. As always with the Jurassic Park series, the dino action is nice and a solid appeal. I would say that the herbivores got a much nicer showing here than in the previous two entries(which I appreciated.) Ultimately, while I enjoyed the film, and it is better than Jurassic Park III, I don't see a need for another journey into the park.

Insectula parodies and pay homage to many B and Z science fiction films, and it pays off. This is surprisingly well done for a low budget film made independently over many years. Does this mean it is Citizen Kane? No. It is, however, one crazy fun ride, replete with INTENTIONALLY bad dialogue, cheesy effects, absurd circumstances, excessive fake blood, and strange performances. The actors must have known they were making this kind of film.

The movie follows Aldo Delbiondo(known as Del) on a quest for justice for his girlfriend's murder. So the suave, sexy, middle aged, pudgy, short, balding, porn star mustachioed Del uses his clout as an agent for the Environmental Protection Agency to take charge of the FBI investigation into her death. But where would we be if the film didn't goof around a lot more before getting to the big confrontation with the alien killer? Over the course of the film we are treated to more strange and bizarre characters and situations. The alien mosquito looks good for hardly any budget, and there are more special effects than I expected for a labor of love project.

As a native Minnesotan I also enjoyed seeing places I recognized as well. Seeing my own state capital being terrorized by a giant version of what we affectionately call "the state bird," was a hoot. If you do not get a chuckle out of movie cheese, then you will not like Insectula, but if you do, it is worth your time.

Lauren Faust does it again with My Little Pony Friendship is Magic! This lightning in a bottle phenomenon could not have been possible were it not for her skilled hands crafting the world and getting a team of talented writers, voice actors, composers, and other behind the scenes people together. For a show aimed(according to Hasbro's merchandising line) at two to eleven year old girls, the appeal of Friendship is Magic goes well beyond its target audience. If you think this is silly, then ask yourself why a children's book called The Hobbit(and it's films) has garnered such a strong adult fan base.

The show follows the adventures of the unicorn Twilight Sparkle and her five equine friends as they go through the challenges of everyday life in Equestria, and the occasional fierce battle for the fate of the world. Each episode has a moral core to it. The morals run the gambit from compromising, to being gracious, to tolerance, to confronting those with an addiction, and even dealing with the loss of a loved one. This is something sorely missing from most television and film today, and one of the treats of this show.The tone is usually light hearted with humor and character drama being the main focus. The fantasy world is brightly colored, so kids will find it fun, and has many mythological elements in it to give it an adventurous and fun feel. The occasional music number also crops up too. Don't let that put you off, the songs are well done and even musical haters have said it won them over. Ultimately this is a show that not only focuses on the heart, but has a lot of heart itself. Well worth checking out.

I will not pretend that Scooby Doo, Where are You! is high art, or the greatest animated series ever; however, there is a reason this is a classic and so fondly remembered. This hits so many strong points, from the eerie music, the oppressive yet whimsical tone, and the creepy and sometimes scary villains. Perhaps the most daring has to be the choice of such a dark color scheme(especially for 1969.) All this contributes to the wonderful mood that permeates Scooby Doo. It is a shame that many future Scooby Doo series could not equal the magic that was there in 1969, because they got so much right. The first season is by far the best, but do not knock the second, both are great.

The Gang(Shaggy, Velma, Daphne, Fred, and of course Scooby Doo) travel around in their van(The Mystery Machine) and investigate seemingly supernatural events. This allows each episode to have it's own spooky locale with a wacky spin on the horror genre. Primarily Shaggy and Scooby Doo are the main focus of the show, acting as comic relief to the goings on. Lastly by encouraging critical thinking, having rational explanations, and showing them confronting their fears teaches good lessons to children, who are the target audience. Not that adults can't absolutely love this show, as the superb mix of comedy, mystery, horror, and atmosphere all make this a great cartoon for all ages!

If you liked this show and wanted more Scooby shows, I recommend, The New Scooby-Doo Movies, The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo, What's New, Scooby-Doo?, and Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated. They are all a little different, but are about as good if not better.

This is a Great show. The Concept is that of a police procedural with many strange twists. The show earns praise from me for being one of the few of this genre that does not claim that the forensic lab gets instant results. Instead it shows that most police work is still leg work, leads, and interrogation(kudos.) Now, on to the weird stuff. Liv Moore(Rose McIver) was a promising doctor until she was scratched by a drug induced zombie, leaving her craving brains. Now she has left her career in medicine(for fear of infecting someone) for the morgue with its convenient supply of brains. Liv aids Detective Clive Babineaux using the visions she gets from the deceased's brains. This is well played with the visions coming in random spurts, giving her(and us) tantalizing glimpses into the murder, while maintaining an air of mystery. She passes this off as being psychic, which can be very fun on occasions.

One of the more interesting parts of the show is that each episode delves a little into psychology, by having Liv take on parts of the victim's persona(sometimes to great effect.) In each episode whenever they come back from commercial, there is a comic style drawing of the scene with a fun title card(I always look forward to this.) The main element that sets this show apart is the witty and clever writing throughout the series. If there is one problem with the show, it is that the story arcs are too quick in coming, and they need more time(or a longer season) to breath. I've only seen the first season, but I hope they fix this in the next season as this has rapidly become must see TV.

Also if you were wondering. The zombies in this show are not your typical zombies. They are not dead, just biologically altered. Heavily slowing down their bodily functions and giving them super strength and healing, along with an ability to not die from most wounds. When they eat brains, they gain the owners abilities, pieces of their persona, and flashes of memories. If they don't eat brains, they slowly will permanently lose mental and physical faculties, presumably eventually dying.

So the film would lead you to believe. Mr. Poe's actual story bears little to no similarities to this tale, but the fact that it opens with the claim that it is based on his story is just part of the inane fun that is SINBAD OF THE SEVEN SEAS! This is a film so poorly written, acted, directed, and conceived, with horrible dubbing that it takes on an air of the absurd. If you are not laughing at the film at some point, you must not have a good sense of humor. Fun fact, the short story Edgar Allen Poe actually wrote, "The Thousand and Second Tale of Scheherazade," is an amusing story(far better than this movie) in which Scheherazade tells of Sinbad's last adventure in which real things from an outsiders perspective are described, but not believed by the King.

The Story: Sinbad returns home to find that the evil Jaffar has rested control of the kingdom with his sorcery and brought an age of darkness. Sinbad and his intrepid crew must find the four magic gems that will return peace to the land and save the princess.

Three out of ten stars for the film(I've sadly seen worse) and nine out of ten for unintentional humor.

Tomorrowland has an underlying theme of nurturing the future, or as it the film puts it, you can choose to feed the wolf of defeat and darkness, or the wolf of hope and light. Unfortunately the film is feeding both wolves, in writer Damon Lindelof(who cannot compose a good script if his life depended on it) and director Brad Bird(who is a master craftsman with visuals.) The core concept of beautiful dreams versus bitter reality is interwoven throughout the film, and in better hands this script could have been more compelling. The theme of dreams turning dark is awkwardly approached and truly fumbled at the end with a cursory "villain" getting his comeuppance, instead of continuing the theme of shining a light on the dark by even attempting to redeem him. It is sad when a story espousing optimism and redemption cannot muster any compassion for a man who had his heart in the right place, but got lost along the way. Fortunately Mr. Bird got his hands into the final draft enough to change most of the cringe worthy dialogue and wandering narrative that saddles Mr. Lindelof's scripts. Still, the story is a mess(narratively and thematically.) It holds together, but needs serious work. Visually this is well conceived and dynamic, drawing you into the world and it's characters. The designs are stunning and Tomorrowland itself looks beautiful. One wonders how the soon to be released Star Wars the Force Awakens would have looked had Mr. Bird taken that project instead.

The Story: Hopeless Dreamer Casey Newton discovers a pin that shows her glimpses of a utopian place called Tomorrowland. In her search to find this place she encounters a strange girl called Athena, who takes her to the one man who can get her there. Along the way danger awaits, and the fate of the world lies in their hands.