The Kids Are All Right (2010)

One word comes to my mind when I want to describe this film: boring. Yes, this is a boring drama film about a lesbian family with two children. It was directed by Lisa Cholodenko (who is a lesbian) starring Julianne Moore and Annette Bening.

The film does not grip from the beginning and you wait hoping to reach the exciting part of story, but it never comes. Though the performances generally are good, the story itself lacks twists and turns.

Nic (Annette Bening) and Jules (Julianne Moore) are a lesbian couple living in California with their two children Laser (Josh Hutcherson) and Joni (Mia Wasikowska). They each gave birth to a child using the sperm of same donor. This way, children have one father and two mothers. Laser wants to find the sperm donor, and asks his 18-year-old sister Joni to do so.

Laser inadvertently gives out information about their meeting with sperm donor to his mothers. Lesbians decide to invite the “father” Paul (Mark Ruffalo) into their lives and this is where family becomes fragile.

I did not believe Annette Bening’s character even for a second; neither did I believe in their lesbian relationship or acting in bed. The film seems to be oriented to certain unconventional-family-audience.  As very little happens in the film, it does not look like a drama nor is it a comedy. The ending is as boring as the beginning.

I do not understand how this film won awards. Did it win because the film is about lesbian family?  Does this mean any “horrible” film might win awards if it is about gay or lesbian family?

Well, this is not a family watch, nor a watch in the company of friends.

Reviewer’s rating: 5.0 out of 10

How to Traing Your Dragon (2010)

This is one of the best animated films of 2010 based on the same name book by Cressida Cowell. Though it reminded me of many other films about dragons, I enjoyed it as much as I did enjoy Megamind.

The story takes place in the Viking village. Hiccup is a young Viking teenager and son of the village chief. His tribe kills dragons that attack their village, burn their houses and steal their livestock. Killing a dragon is an honourable thing for villagers. In comparison with huge and rough Vikings, slim and small Hiccup with his bright mind seems completely out of place. He wants to impress his father, Stoick the Vast and kill the dragon.

During the attack of dragons, he shoots a rare dragon – Night Fury that can produce a lightning, with his contraption. But when he tells people about it, nobody believes him. Hiccup chases down the dragon that he shot in the forest. He wants to kill it, but is unable to do so and sets the dragon free. The creature disappears to the forest.

Hiccup finds Night Fury in the forest and discovers that because of tail injury it cannot fly. Gradually, he learns how to earn its trust and befriends it. He names the Night Fury “Toothless” and designs for it an artificial tail allowing Hiccup to fly with dragon. But soon their friendship is discovered by Astrid, village girl who is jealous of Hiccup’s success at dragon-slaying school.

Hiccup kidnaps Astrid and they fly on Toothless for a while. Accidentally, they discover a great danger that was the reason for dragons’ constant attacks to the village.

It is an enjoyable watch for children, hence a good watch in the company of family and friends.

Reviewer's rating: 7.5 out of 10

Paul (2011)

It is a comedy directed by Greg Mottola starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. I laughed a lot and really enjoyed the film.

First of all, I love Pegg and Frost since I watched the film ‘Hot Fuzz’ (2007). They were co-starring in ‘Shaun of the Dead’ (2004) as well, but it was not as good as ‘Hot Fuzz’.

Paul is the name of the alien who arrives in his cosmic ship decades earlier killing same name dog of a little girl. Graeme Willy (Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Frost) are two English comic book nerds who take a road trip through America in their RV. A couple of times during the film they are taken for homosexuals. They meet Paul who wrecks up the car, which he has been driving to get to the place of departure for his ‘homeland’.

Later, it is revealed that government intends to surgically remove Paul’s brain in order to obtain his abilities of healing, disappearing, transferring information by touching with fingers, via telepathic link. He runs from government in order to return to his planet. He is no longer useful to them with his scientific and sociological advises.

I loved the way Paul claims that he gave the idea for E.T. and creating the character of Fox Mulder. But also as a believer, I did not like how Paul convinced Ruth Buggs, who run a motor park together with her father Moses, in non-existence of God. I did not like their swearing as well. Boys and alien are forced to take Ruth with them as Paul reveals himself to her. Later, Paul heals her eye.

After number of adventures and almost getting caught by their hunters, Paul is able to leave. But before he leaves, he demonstrates his healing ability once again by bringing Graeme, who has been shot by headmaster of hunters (Sigourney Weaver), back to life. As it is common for films with aliens, Paul takes Tara, little girl who is now an old woman and who saved his life when he arrived, with him. Two years later, Graeme and Clive are shown in an event promoting their new comic book, ‘Paul’

Film is funny, clever and amusing with some black and English humour. I recommend it as a good laugh and funny watch in the company of family.

Reviewer's rating: 7.0 out of 10

Tangled (2010)

Rapunzel is based on another medieval legend. It is about a girl shut away in a tower and taken away from her parents at a younger age. They say Disney spent huge amount of money in order to release this animation. When I first heard the title, I thought it will be yet another Disney prince and princess story with songs. Somehow reluctantly, I started watching and to my surprise I enjoyed it much. In the beginning it reminded me of Madeleine McCann who went missing in 2007.

I love bright and beautifully contrasting colours in both films and animations. In Tangled, I enjoyed bright and illuminating lanterns released into the sky every year on Rapunzel’s birthday. They were lovely. Rapunzel’s shining very very long hairs, glowing rapunzel flower, fresh-looking trees, grass, well-designed tower, castle were all pretty, colourful, and superb. The plot is well-thought and timely planned.

Rapunzel, for a girl kept in the tower all her life and who has never seen another human - except Gothel , who she believes is her mother - yet alone a man, is strong enough to stand up for herself with frying pan. Flynn Rider, who later admits that his real name is Eugene, is another self-satisfied theft like Aladdin. He accidentally finds Rapunzel’s tower in the woods. Later, he evolves into a loving and protective person, much like Aladdin.

As promised, Rapunzel returns satchel with princess’ tiara to Eugene after he takes her to see lanterns. But he does not give up on her when his mission is accomplished. Thugs save him from hanging and he goes back to Rapunzel’s tower. He gets stabbed by Gothel. After her hairs are cut and lose healing power, Rapunzel demonstrates ability to heal with her tears and brings Eugene back to life (similar to Beauty and Beast).

The way, Rapunzel puts all pieces of puzzle together and realizes that she is long-lost sun princess, is perfectly filmed and smartly delivered to audience. Nevertheless, I have to say that there were certain parts, which I did not like. The reason for dislike is probably me, being beyond the age target group of animation.

Firstly, I did not like Maximum the Horse. He sniffs and chases like a dog. In my opinion, it is a weird character. Rapunzel’s chameleon Pascal is nimble and sly, but amiable creature. This company, altogether, reminds me of Mulan (1998), another Disney animation: the lucky cricket Cri-kee is chameleon Pascal, horse Khan is Maximus  and Mulan is Rapunzel. People, who worked on both products, are completely different, but stories have similarities. It is similarities with Aladdin and Mulan that I did not like beside than Maximus.

Tangled definitely is a good watch, not only for younger, but also for older generation. It is one of those funny musical Disney animations you can watch with whole family.

Reviewer's rating: 7.0 out of 10