In Review: "Creed"

I'm not a huge boxing movie fan. Yes, I've seen all the Rockys like a good movie buff, but I take no joy in watching two people pummel each other to a pulp for pride. But, this movie get me hyped up and rooting for this new kid.

The Story

We return to the world of Rocky Balboa. Rocky's getting pretty old now. Paulie and Adrian are both gone. And he mainly spends his time taking care of the little restaurant.

Then we have the son of famed boxer Apollo Creed, who if you remember died in the ring in the Rocky 4 (killed by the Russian boxer). This kid, named after another character in Greek mythology Adonis, has always had the fight in his blood. After being taken from the foster care system and given the silver spoon, he feels trapped in a life he didn't want. Adonis decides to venture out into the world and become a boxer, but with the intent on creating his own name, not banking on his father's fame. And of course, he turns to his father's best friend Rocky Balboa.

Together, the pair learn to fight again.

The Stars

Michael B. Jordan plays Adonis Creed. I'm amazed this kid hasn't done more. He was in the failed 2015 version of "Fantastic Four" and he had a small role in Zac Efron's "That Awkward Moment", but nothing else recognizable. But man, can we act. He made me want this kid to win when he really was just a rich boy who had no reason to want to fight, didn't have a life on the streets, a place that usually produces boxers and fighters. He gave this character such drive that I didn't care what exactly he was fighting but I knew he was going to win.

Sylvester Stallone does a nice job of not being Rocky, or at least, the Rocky that we grew up with. He's not a boxer anymore and really just wants to live out his life in peace. Sylvester Stallone hasn't been in a boxing movie since "Grudge Match" (2013)- which is a really awesome movie btw. But, unlike other actors **cough** Arnold Schwarzenegger **cough**, Stallone has accepted his age and played roles that fit him.

The Message

Life is something you have to fight for. You have to fight to be who you want to be. You have to sometimes even fight for your life. No one's going to do it for you.

In the movie, Rocky puts Adonis in front of a mirror and tells him that when he gets in the ring, the man in the mirror is who he is fighting, not the opponent in front of him. In life, you are fighting against yourself, your willingness to go on, your past hurts, your weaknesses, your insecurities. Those are the things that keep us from being who we are meant to be. And the only person standing in our way is us.

Overall

I loved that this movie didn't try to be a sequel to the original Rocky films. It didn't try to resurrect Rocky. It just lived in the same world. It's a spin off, which is very hard to do correctly.

I wish there would have been a little more exploration on Adonis' character's past. All we know is he got in a lot of fights before we was taken out of foster care. But that's me being picky.

This movie is perfect for anyone who loves the original series, and anyone else who loves a good underdog story.

3.5 out of 4 Knockouts

In Review: "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2"

The problem with this movie is simply that it exists. There is nothing particularly wrong with the film. It is just not as good as it could've been if it wasn't separated for its pair. A tactic that has been successful with other films and narratives in the past but did most certainly did not work this time.

The Story

We continue right where we left off - Katniss has been commissioned by District 13 to help start the revolution, her only goal being to kill the malicious President Snow, Peeta has been safely found but has been brainwashed by the Capital to hate Katniss.

This movie finishes the war and finishes the series. I'm not telling you anything else.

The Stars

All of the original characters are back. And once again, Jennifer Lawrence slays it.

The Message

The message is very unclear when you take into consideration how the story ends. Was this just a warning to never let anything like the Hunger Games happen in real life? Or was this more about moving away from an all-powerful government and giving the power to the people? It is unclear how political we are supposed to get.

Overall

The new movie is painstackenly devoted to the source material. Down to the stupid final line- "There are worse games to play." But if the movie makers really truly cared about the source material, they would have kept the final book as one film.

Let's look at the times this tactic has worked in the past. Harry Potter's final book was split into two films. This works because we have one location for the final movie: Hogwarts. It is a natural break in the story: our three heroes decide to fight instead of hide. Twilight's final books was split into two films. This works because our hero has "awakened" as a new creature. The world is entirely different to vampire Bella than it was to human Bella. So new film techniques can be used and even the 3D makes sense here. When it wouldn't have worked in the previous film.

This time, it doesn't work. There is no natural break in the story. There is no character awakening. The location is the same as the last movie. By spliting this book is half, you lose all of the momentum the last part had created. Now, we don't remember who the new characters are, nor do we really care when they die in the beginning. The character development is not as clear or as well crafted than in the book because you can't remember the nuances of the character in the previous film. Nor do you really care now to go back.

The new movie created more money for an opening night and more money from the people who forgot to see the previous film. It does nothing for the story. It does nothing for the characters. It is simply to make more money. And not even more money for the franchise as a whole because this movie wasn't very good, newcomers won't want to go back and watch the old movies.

I hope this movie will stop this trend of splitting films in half. It just doesn't work.

1 out of 4 Arrows

In Review: "The Peanuts Movie"

It can be hard to stand in the shadow of a legend, but I think this movie paid him homage and tried to introduce a new generation to something that has been loved for generations.

The Story

All of the beloved Peanuts characters are back in this 3D animated movie where the cartoons have jumped off of the pages. The Little Red Head Girl has moved in across the street from Charlie Brown. With the help of his trusty dog and best friend Snoopy, Charlie Brown tries to stand out and gain the confidence to finally go and talk to the new girl in town.

Meanwhile, Snoopy, writes his own story. Snoopy is the Flying Ace and must defeat the evil Red Baron and save the love of his life, Fifi, a little pinky poodle.

The Stars

Just to show how dedicated this team was to creating a movie that Charles Schulz would be proud of, every voice character who plays one of the Peanuts kids is in fact a kid (and also sounds quite a lot like the original voices in previous films) and the voice of Snoopy is no one new. In fact, every sound Snoopy and Woodstock make is archival sound made by Bill Melendez. Melendez was the voice for Snoopy and Woodstock since 1965.

The Message

Charlie Brown is continually told he is not good enough. He continually fails at just about everything he tries. But he doesn't choose to give up or even hate the world. He faces every problem he encounters with determination and hope that this time will be it for sure. And through it all, he stays warm and open to the world around him. Proving that who you are is just enough. Something that even adults struggle with.

Overall

This movie is all about a lost generation- a generation where kids were their own adults, and they did what they wanted when they wanted. There were no schedules of activities or real communication between parents and children. Kids would spend summers playing endlessly with friends at the park or the swimming pool. And not return home until dark. That is why in the Peanuts cartoons and movies, the adults are not a central part of the story and literally speak gibberish. Because these kids from an early age are taught to take care of themselves.

Because of this, this movie will be hard for this generation of children to relate to. Charlie Brown doesn't sit in front of a screen playing games all day. And he doesn't ask his mom (?) or dad (?- not sure if he even lives with his parents) for help when he wants to impress the Little Red Haired Girl. He's his own little adult with his own little adult problems.

That way of thinking may not be the best parenting, but this generation had something that future generations has forgotten. The wonder of imagination. Snoopy pretends to be the Flying Ace throughout the movie, something that would now be done through a video game. But this pup walks around his neighborhood, through kids' bathtubs, through empty fields, pretending that he lives in this world he has created. No one does that anymore.

Although the movie kept to the original material as close as humanly possible, it was nothing groundbreaking. All of these lessons and characters are things we have seen before from previous Peanuts specials and movies. Not to say that that is a bad thing, but it would have been nice to see something a little more special about this movie.

This movie is perfect for a night of nostalgia. For anyone who wants to be reminded of the importance of childhood and the importance of man's best friend.

3 out of 4 Woodstocks

ABC Family's 13 Night of Halloween Schedule

Halloween is not my favorite holiday, but it has one of my favorite movie events of the year - ABC Family's 13 Nights of Halloween. The majority of the movies are not-so-scary, perfect for this frightful whimp. Below, I have organized the schedule by movie so that, for example, if you want to watch "Hocus Pocus" every time it's on, you can. Or if you miss one, you can catch it again at the next showing.

Enjoy! It all begins Oct. 19, and don't forget all the below times are in ET.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1"- 1:30 pm Oct. 19

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2"- 5 pm Oct 19

"Hocus Pocus"- 9 pm Oct. 19, 6 pm Oct. 20, 11:30 pm Oct. 24, 9:45 pm Oct. 25, 9 pm Oct. 27, 6 pm Oct. 28, 12 am Oct. 29, 6:30 pm Oct. 30, 7 pm Oct. 31, 9:15 pm Oct. 31

"Corpse Bride"- 12 am Oct. 19, 4 pm Oct. 20, 11 am Oct. 24, 9 am Oct. 25

"Casper"- 12 am Oct. 20, 5 pm Oct. 21, 12:30 pm Oct. 25, 12 am Oct. 28, 5 pm Oct. 29

"The Addams Family"- 7 pm Oct. 21, 4:30 pm Oct. 24, 2:30 pm Oct. 25, 7 pm Oct. 29, 2:20 pm Oct. 30

"Addams Family Values"- 9 pm Oct. 21, 4 pm Oct. 22, 6:30 pm Oct. 24, 4:30 pm Oct. 25, 9 pm Oct. 29, 4:30 pm Oct. 30

"I Know What You Did Last Summer"- 12 am Oct. 21, 6 pm Oct. 22

"I Still Know What You Did Last Summer"- 12 am Oct. 22

"The Hunger Games"- 8 pm Oct. 22, 5:30 pm Oct. 23

"Sleepy Hollow"- 8:30 pm Oct. 23, 5:30 pm Oct. 26, 3 pm Oct. 31, 11:30 pm Oct. 31

"Matilda"- 12 am Oct. 23, 7 am Oct. 24

"ParaNorman"- 9 am Oct. 24, 7 am Oct. 25, 12 am Oct. 27, 4 pm Oct. 28

"The Nightmare Before Christmas"- 1 pm Oct. 24,  11 am Oct. 25, 9:30 pm Oct. 26, 6 pm Oct. 27, 5:30 pm Oct. 31

"Monsters University"- 8:30 pm Oct. 24, 7 pm Oct. 25

"Toy Story OF TERROR!"- 11 pm Oct. 24, 6:30 pm Oct. 25, 9 pm Oct. 26, 7:30 pm Oct. 27

"Frankenweenie"- 12 am Oct. 26, , 4 pm Oct. 27

"Dark Shadows"- 8:15 pm Oct 28

"Poltergeist"- 8:30 pm Oct. 30, 12:30 pm Oct. 31

"Poltergeist II: The Other Side"- 12 am Oct. 30

"Batman"- 7 am Oct. 31

"Batman Returns"- 10 am Oct. 31

Revamped- "Peter Pan"

On a new segment I like to call "Revamped," I will be taking a look at classic tales that keep getting remade, redone and revamped. In honor of the movie "Pan" opening on Friday, here is a look at all of the other movies involving the youthful sprite Peter Pan.

"Peter Pan" (1924)

The first Peter Pan film was made during the silent era with a female playing the title character. This version is very true to the original play with Mrs. Darling offering to adopt Peter (he refuses) and allowing Wendy to return to Never Land to return to Never Land once a year (to help with his spring cleaning).

"Walt Disney's Peter Pan" (1953)

Disney's version is true to the original material -- perhaps more on the literal side than the philosophical side (but you can't blame them, it's Disney). This may be because the film was put on hold for years and eventually made to turn a profit after the war. It was the first version to be a musical with songs that have lasted for decades ("The Second Star to the Right" "Never Smile at a Crocodile"). A year later, Mary Martin would star in a Broadway musical version with different songs. It was broadcast on TV in 1955, 1956, 1960 and redone in 2014 (with Girls' Allison Williams)

"Peter Pan" (1988)

An animated direct-to-video Australian version of the story. It's on YouTube if you're curious.

"Hook" (1991)

This well known version tells the story of what happens after the first Peter Pan book. (It is hinted at at the end of Barrie's first book.) Robin Williams plays a grown-up Peter Pan whose children have been kidnapped by a Dustin Hoffman Captain Hook. Peter must learn how to fly again to save his children and himself. Julia Roberts is Tinker Bell. Maggie Smith is Wendy. Dante Basco is Ruffio. It's all awesome! Definitely my favorite version.

"Return to Never Land" (2002)

The Disney sequel- sadly not a musical. Peter Pan has returned to the Darling home only to find Wendy all grown up and her daughter Jane. Peter brings Jane and her brother Danny to Never Land, but Jane is not like her mother and has a much more realistic take on the world. Peter must teach her to fly and be a kid. Although it's not a musical, "I'll Try" is a beautiful song that shows up in the film.

"Peter Pan" (2003)

This is what happens when Peter Pan discovers CGI. Technically, this is the first movie with a male Peter Pan, if we were not counting "Hook" (which is okay because that's really a sequel).

"Finding Neverland" (2004)

This is not really the tale of Peter Pan, but the true story of Peter's creator and how he wrote the original play and found the character. Johnny Depp plays J.M. Barrie and Kate Winslet plays his muse. The film became a Broadway musical and was on the Great White Way this past way. Glee's Matthew Morrison played Barrie.

"Pan" (2015)

This is a prequel to the original story. How Peter Pan became Peter Pan (played by a boy again) and how Captain Hook became the pirate we know (played by Garrett Hedland from "Tron"). The trailer also includes Black Beard (played by Hugh Jackman). Get excited!!

Also: Tinkerbell!!! We can't forget Peter's lovable fairy friend. Disney takes claim on their version of the fairy. In these newer films, Tink is a more fleshed out character with a whole range of emotions, flaws, and new friends.

"Tinker Bell" (2008)

This is the prequel to the little fairy explaining how Tink came into the fairy world and how she found her place in Pixie Hollow. (No Peter Pan)

"Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure" (2008)

Tinker Bell visits Never Land to save Pixie Hollow. (No Peter but Terrance comes into play)

"Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue" (2010)

Tink and her friends meet a human for the first time! (No Peter Pan)

"Secret of the Wings" (2012)

Tink meets her sister who's a Winter Fairy, and it's adorable. (No Peter Pan)

"The Pirate Fairy" (2014)

A pirate fairy steals Pixie Hollow's special magic. Tink and friends must get it back. (No Peter Pan, but there's pirates. And a particular pirate named James...)

"Legend of the NeverBeast" (2015)

A mysterious beast enters Pixie Hollow, and everyone runs away but Tink. (No Peter- you'd think they would include him once!)