The Buzz: movie reviews

Zootopia is a beautiful and fun tale about Judy Hopps, a sweet little bunny with big dreams of becoming a police officer. She's from a small farming town, (growing carrots, of course), so being a police officer in a big city surrounded by predators seems far out of reach. When she arrives on the scene in the sprawling city of Zootopia , she meets a con artist fox named Nick. They must work together to solve an urgent mystery. Zootopia has a lot going for it. There's action, funny characters and jokes, a sweet message about love and acceptance, and incredible visuals. Disney strikes again with the same studio that created Brave , Tangled , Wreck-it-Ralph ,   Big Hero 6 , and Frozen . The concept of animals living together in a world of predators and prey is adorable and fun. Yet, despite all it has going for it, I didn't love Zootopia . I certainly liked it. But, love is such a strong word. After the emotional powerhouse of Inside Out last year, Zootopia left me fe...

I love cats. Many people share my love! One of the basic guide rules for actors is never act with kids or animals. These are the best cinematic examples of movies where actors straight up broke that rule for the love of cats. Did I miss any cat classics? Let me know in the comments! 5. The Adventures of Milo and Otis (1986) This adorable children's movie follows the adventure of a little orange kitty named Milo and a dog named Otis. So, even if you're more of a dog lover, you'll still appreciate this one. This little gem was originally made for Japanese tv, and was re-dubbed with English and heavily edited for a "happier" story line for Americans. WARNING: This movie may break the Adorable-O-Meter. Don't say I didn't warn you. 4. Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993) The voices of Sally Field, Michael J. Fox, and Don Ameche bring these adorable little critters to life. A golden retriever, a bulldog, and yes,...a meow meow kitty are all on a...

The air warms, the days get longer, the sky gets bluer, and the sun gets brighter. I love spring! I've put together a list of movies that are perfect for that time of year. 5. Alice In Wonderland (2010) Lewis Carroll's wickedly imaginative novel gets the modern Tim Burton spin. Critics are a bit split over this one, but I have found Alice in Wonderland to be a fun, richly creative, and visually beautiful take on the book. It ain't Gone With the Wind , but it's a wonderful spring time movie with enough visual power and story interest to get multiple views. Also, Disney is blessing the world with a sequel, Alice In Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass .  It's coming out in May 2016. 4. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) Wes Anderson paints is cinematic worlds with bold colors and fun characters. Grand Budapest is a great spring movie for it's palette of gorgeous colors, humorous levity, quirky story, and memorable characters played by a stellar cast. ...

I don't like to post many reviews that aren't exactly movie reviews, but I believe this is a special circumstance. Yesterday the world was blessed with the latest and final trailer from Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice . At this point, it's no secret that Wonder Woman becomes a key player in the movie. And, some form of beast that is probably Doomsday made an appearance in the second trailer. The very first trailer released for Batman Vs. Superman was fairly good. It had an ominous feel, a captivating tone, and just enough imagery to spark imaginations and speculations of nerds everywhere. ("The red capes are coming...")  Then, the second trailer was released, and I began to lose hope in this movie. Honestly, it was cheesy. Jesse Eisenberg, who plays Lex Luthor, had a totally cheesy scene where he introduces Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne. Bruce Wayne is driving some kind of 1920's cartoon car, and there's a scene at the end when Wonder Woman shows up ...

I love Disney World. In fact, you may have read my earlier blog entry about the best movies to watch to prepare for a trip to Disney. My wife and I made a fun travel video, so watch and enjoy! And here is a little intro video we made for our new Youtube page:

We're half way through the 2010's decade, and so much has evolved already! We've witnessed the end of the Harry Potter era, a new Peter Jackson directed JRR Tolkien trilogy, so many new superhero movies, a resurgence in the independent film genre, and....brace yourselves....a new Star Wars trilogy has begun! With so much going on in the first half of the decade, I thought it would be a good idea to break down the best movies so far. This will illuminate where Hollywood is headed, and were we've been. And, of course, this is just my opinion. Please let me know if I've left anything off the list! 11. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) When the first Hunger Games came out, I was pleasantly surprised by how engaging, interesting, and creative it was. And, it put Jennifer Lawrence on the map in a big way. In Catching Fire , the first sequel, everything feels tighter, more confident, smoother, and more coherent. The series really hit its peak in this one. One co...

My predictions for Oscar wins are in bold. Leave a comment with your own predictions or let know if I'm right or wrong! Best Actor Bryan Cranston - Trumbo Matt Damon - The Martian Leonardo Dicaprio - The Revenant Michael Fassbender - Steve Jobs Eddie Redmayne - The Danish Girl Without a doubt, this is Leo's year! Best Supporting Actor Christian Bale - The Big Short Tom Hardy - The Revenant Mark Ruffalo - Spotlight Mark Rylance - Bridge of Spies Sylvester Stallone - Creed Just give Stallone the trophy already! Best Actress Cate Blanchett - Carol Brie Larson - Room Jennifer Lawrence - Joy Charlotte Rampling - 45 Years Saoirse Ronan - Brooklyn Very incredible and deserving. However, it could still be J.Law. Best Supporting Actress Jennifer Jason Leigh - The Hateful Eight Rooney Mara - Carol Rachel McAdams - Spotlight Alicia Vikander - The Danish Girl Kate Winslet - Steve Jobs  I haven't seen The Hateful Eight , and this is totally just...