Star Wars fan films continue to be amazing, but TK-436: A Stormtrooper Story has got to be among the best. This short flick manages to take the Star Wars Universe in a somber direction I didn’t think was possible. Great job!
Shmee Visits Zootopia!
Disney Animation Studios is on quite the roll. They haven’t released a bad movie in quite some time, and Zootopia continues this streak. Somehow the folks over at Disney managed to make a poignant movie about racism, but still have it be cute and charming. Zootopia is a great movie, and one that can be seen by the whole family.
The film follows a bunny named Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) who becomes Zootopia’s first rabbit cop, but she soon finds out that the world isn’t the wonderful place she hoped it would be, and tensions are running high in the city between Prey and Predators. Her first big case could make things even worse. Hopefully her new friend a sly fox named Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) can help her navigate the big city.
A bad movie would have fumbled this story and made it too preachy, or even worse, insulting, but Zootopia’s writers managed to get just the right tone while still getting their point across. I like how they made sure that the main characters were not immune to the problems the city had, but instead they had to overcome them. Too many kids movies make the main characters perfect, so nothing is learned.
Disney Animation and Pixar continue to be the gold standard on finding great voice talent for their films. While other studios chase big stars, so they can advertise their star power, Disney just gets the right people for the job. Bateman and Goodwin are very good, but the rest of the cast is wonderful too. Though I am a sucker for anything with John DiMaggio in it.
The animation in Zootopia is amazing. Disney Animation Studios really brought this animal city to life. I loved all the different districts, and how all these different animals interacted with one another. It made Zootopia feel like a real place. It was just great work all around.
Zootopia is a good family film that was made by a studio that has really hit its stride. The only reason that I could find for not recommending this film is that it has a couple of quick scary parts, but my two year old made it through with flying colors. Zootopia is so good you should watch it even if you don’t have a family.
Things Get Dramatic For Rogue One: A Star Wars Story!
Shmee Picks His Black Manta!
I am going to have to apologize up front. Usually when I cast a character I have five choices, but with so many people already making either Marvel movies or DC movies I had to narrow my list down to three because everyone was already in something else. Still with the announcement that the Aquaman’s most well known villain Black Manta would be in the new Aquaman film, I had to voice my opinion. Here are my top three choices for Black Manta:
3: Denzel Washington
I know that he is 61 and he will be 62 by the time Aquaman starts filming, but he would add some weight and star power to the picture, and Denzel can do anything regardless of his age. Put him in the suit and I wouldn’t stand in his way.
2: Jamie Foxx
His last outing as a superhero villain did not go well in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, but he is a talented actor, and playing a more serious villain like Black Manta would play to his strengths. He could definitely throw down with Jason Momoa.
1: Michael K. Williams
The fact that Michael K. Williams is not already working on a major comic book movie is crime, but he would be perfect for Black Manta. If you doubt his acting chops check out Boardwalk Empire or The Wire and you will be sold. No one would be safe underwater with Michael K. William’s Black Manta on the loose!
Those are my three choices for Black Manta! What do you think? Who would you pick to play opposite of Aquaman?
This Is The Akira Fans Have Been Clamoring For!
Akira 28 from Brad Kremer on Vimeo.
It seems like Hollywood has been trying to make an Akira movie for forever, but the fans, as always, are around to show them how it should be done! While the CGI could use a little work, the above video was gorgeous and it makes me want to run out and watch Akira again.