Movies – Page 42 – Colin McMahon

Forgotten Classics: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie

Posted on June 29, 2013 by Colin McMahon

Oh my gawd, Power Rangers, oh my gawd, this movie. Quick question for those out there who grew up in the nineties: did you ever have that one friend? You know the one I mean. You had like a Blue Ranger action figure and you were like so super proud of it but then he/she had the complete Zord set and they could all link up to form the Megazord or remain their little animal parts. Suddenly owning the Blue Ranger wasn’t so cool. But, as long as you two were friends, you could play with the Megazord. It made you love your time together and dream of the day when you too owned the Megazord… and then you could say goodbye to that loser. We all had that friend. That was the friend you went to go see Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie with.

Now the show was totally awesome. Remember when the Rangers were dressed as normal kids enjoying a totally drug/alcohol/sex free high school? Then there was that shot of Rita and Lord Zed plotting to kill them by taking this normal animal/object/thing/whatever and turning it into a monster that never ever looked like a guy in a costume. Oh but first, FIRST they would send the Putty Patrollers. I always felt kinda bad for the hapless Putty Patrollers. They existed simply to get beaten before the monster showed up. They didn’t seem like the smartest creatures either, I had a hard time believing they were evil.

Anyway, they were an awesome part of the show. Know what was even more awesome: when the monster showed up. It would beat up the Rangers but then the rangers would totally start beating it up. The monster would grow huge and everyone would be like “oh no, what are we going to do? Angel Grove is doomed!” but then the Rangers would be like “chill out, we got this. It’s morphin time!” and summon the Zords and form the Megazord and proceed to bitch-slap the equally hapless monster (it was just doing what it was made to do!). Anyway that was the plot. Great plot. Fantastic plot! So good, they used it for every episode. Not complaining, it was great. I never wanted to see the Mighty Morphin Introspective Rangers. Then there was the movie and suddenly this plot wasn’t good enough anymore.

First off, we start the movie with the Power Rangers jumping out of an airplane. It’s pretty sweet. The white ranger jumps out with a snowboard cause he’s cooler that way. He’s the best. The white ranger. Leader of the group. White is the best… white is the leader… white… power? NO, they got away from all that by recasting some of the rangers before this movie. Now a white guy is the Black Ranger and a black chick is the Yellow Ranger. No more racially profiled rangers. Awesome. Okay so they jump out of a plane, no introduction needed, you know it’s them (convenient that they always wear their ranger color… how does no one notice?).

They land and stuff happens. Then we cut to Angel Grove construction and get introduced to this guy:

Well, not right away. The Angel Grove grownups dig him up (cause just open everything you find underground right?) and Lord Zed sets him free. Anyone hoping to see Rita and Zed take on the Power Rangers in a climatic theatrical experience: keep dreaming, we got Ivan Ooze instead. He’s kinda cool though… not really sure what he is… except that he’s made out of pink ooze. Oh and he can shoot pink lightning too. Pink seems to be his thing (not to be confused with the pink ranger).

Waiting for Ivan Ooze to create a monster. He doesn’t (cause he’s a badass obviously). Instead he goes to the Ranger’s headquarters where Zordon is hanging… where is that place anyway?

I'm going to go ahead and give this an official location. The Power Rangers HQ is located in Alpena, South Dakota. Yep, that's now canon. You just learned that. — I’m going to go ahead and give this an official location. The Power Rangers HQ is located in Alpena, South Dakota. Yep, that’s now canon. You just learned that.

And Ivan breaks in. He just oozes in (get it? I won’t do anymore of those, I promise). Seriously he just kinda gets in there. Like woah, it would be like if the Joker just walked into the Bat Cave. Why is there no security? Zordon obviously has enemies. He puts teenagers in danger every day to try and fight them. You think he would do more than just lock his door.

So Zordon gets beat up, Rangers lose their powers and they have to go to another planet to get them back. Yep. That makes total sense. Wait, is Ivan sending a monster?

Here come the tengu! (yeah that's their official name) — Here come the tengu! (yeah that’s their official name)

Wow they look threatening and there’s a lot of them. Going to be pretty tough for the Rangers, especially when they don’t have their powers. Going to be a fierce fight, I bet the Power Rangers are going to have to use their skill and teamwork to outsmart these supernatural creations and –

Holy shit there's a scantily clad woman swinging sticks! Just run! — Holy shit there’s a scantily clad woman swinging sticks! Just run!

Yeah the Power Rangers get saved by the planet’s (only?) inhabitant. Makes sense. I bet she was really psyched to see other humans on her world for once. I want to know more about her story. Is she like the knight in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade? Can’t wait to hear more about her. Or just move on. The movie just moves on. That’s cool, I’m still with you, bro. I’m still following. She says there’s going to be impossible trials. Wonder what cool monsters those will be?

Well, turns out they’re so cool and memorable that I can’t find pictures of them on Google. That’s right, now even Google, it seems, has a standard. But I almost forgot! They get new animals. New Zords (well not yet). But that’s great because they were dinosaurs before and like, only unicorns and dragons are cooler. Wait, there’s a monkey… and a wolf (that’s still pretty cool I guess)… and a bear… and a… frog? Seems like a downgrade, just saying. Strength of an ape is nice but unless that gorilla is King Kong, it’s not going to beat a T-Rex.

Meanwhile, the Power Rangers are away, I can only imagine all the evil stuff Ivan Ooze is doing on Earth:

Well turns out he dug up some robots and the Rangers come back with the Zords (finally) and we get.. a fight?

Always wanted to see a robot frog fight a robot scorpion. This movie came out two years after Jurassic Park btw. — Always wanted to see a robot frog fight a robot scorpion. This movie came out two years after *Jurassic Park* btw.

Then there’s this comet and Ivan gets blown up and the Power Rangers save Zordon by holding hands. I know I left stuff out but there’s just too much plot for me to handle. This movie has layers yo, deep layers of… really really boring. Some movies hold up from childhood. Some movies don’t. Honestly it feels like the Power Rangers are barely in their own movie. The final fight takes only five minutes and Ivan Ooze goes out like a punk. This is the guy who took out Rita, Lord Zed and Zordon. Kinda anticlimactic.

How boring and stupid is this movie: I watched this while drunk and thought it was dull. Keep that in mind when deciding to revisit Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie. Just watch the show instead.

Who's that monster in the corner? I don't remember him being in the movie. — Who’s that monster in the corner? I don’t remember him being in the movie.

Thoughts? Comments? Am I full of it or onto something? Let me know now in the feedback section of this article.

Pixar: Is History Repeating Itself?

Posted on June 26, 2013 by Colin McMahon

Yesterday I had the pleasure of seeing Pixar’s new movie, Monsters University. In my past posts, I have made no secret my disappointment at recent Pixar films (Brave, Cars 2) but I’m happy to report that Monsters University is a step back into the spotlight for Pixar. Sure, it doesn’t have the heart that its predecessor, Monsters Inc., had but overall I would actually say that I had more fun with Monsters University. The prequel definitely had more memorable characters in it (Boo was missed but it was nice to actually get to know Mike and Sully). But anyway, I could go into more detail here but I’ll say see the movie for yourself and judge. I would like to talk about Pixar studios more as a whole today rather than focus on their most recent accomplishment.

A trip to Metacritic prompted this article. After seeing Monsters University I was interested to see the critical reaction. Monsters Inc. enjoys a 78 on the movie review website and I figured that its prequel would be around there. It’s not. I was actually really surprised to see that Monsters University currently only clocks in at a 64. What’s more surprising is that much of the criticism simply accuses the film of being a cash grab and condemns Pixar for their lack of originality. To be fair: nobody really ever asked for a Monsters Inc. prequel. However, simply because no one asked for it doesn’t mean it can’t be a good film. Also I would like to think I’m good at spotting cash grabs. Putting Jango Fett in Star Wars Episode II for instance, that was a cash grab (the father of the best selling Star Wars toy ever made). Monsters University was not made simply to make Pixar more dollars and shame on any critic who thinks that. One can dislike the movie sure but there are other legitimate weaknesses to criticize.

If Pixar really just wanted more money, don't you think we'd get a sequel to this? — If Pixar really just wanted more money, don’t you think we’d get a sequel to this?

Amongst the reviews I read, I was shocked to discover an atmosphere of distrust toward Pixar. In general it seems that critics aren’t as warm to the animation company as they once were. I decided to take a look at where other animation studios ranked according to Metacritic’s review pool. Here is what I found:

Pixar Animation Studios – Overall ranking: 79 (Highest rated film: Ratatouille at 96)

Walt Disney Animation Studios – Overall ranking: 69 (Highest rated film: Winne the Pooh at 74)

– Special Note: This does not include the old Walt Disney Studios Animation company, merely the most recent one that formed after Disney acquired Pixar.

Dreamworks Animation – Overall ranking: 63 (Highest rated film: Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit at 87)

Sony Pictures Animation – Overall ranking: 58 (Highest rated film: The Pirates! Band of Misfits at 73)

Blue Sky Studios – Overall ranking: 58 (Highest rated film: Horton Hears a Who! at 71)

Illumination Entertainment – Overall ranking: 53 (Highest rated film: Despicable Me at 72)

It’s clear who the current king of animation is. Pixar has eight films rated higher than the highest of their competitors. They are the equivalent of Renaissance painters in this day in age (making Illumination Entertainment finger-paint artists). Want to know something though, before the end of the “Pixar Golden Age” in 2010, their overall score would have been an 87. That includes Cars. Since that time, movies like John Carter (yes they did the animation in that film plus it was directed by Pixar vet. Andrew Stanton), Cars 2, Brave, and now Monsters University have lowered the score a full eight points. So recently Pixar has fallen off their pedestal. It is only their past triumphs that keep them above the clutter.

Toy Story 3 was the last Golden Age Pixar film. Released in 2010, the entry dramatically concluded the trilogy by showing that Pixar, like Andy, had grown up and was ready to tackle new things.... then we got Cars 2. — *Toy Story 3* was the last “Golden Age” Pixar film. Released in 2010, the entry dramatically concluded the trilogy by showing that Pixar, like Andy, had grown up and was ready to tackle new things…. then we got *Cars 2*.

Okay, Cars 2 sucked. I’ve implied it, the critics have stated it (57 on Metacritic) and the public has generally already forgotten its existence. It’s just not a good movie. From start to finish, there is little in Cars 2 to compliment. Beyond that: who was asking for it? Cars was the black sheep of the “Pixar Golden Age”. It was the film that was released between The Incredibles at Ratatouille, two vastly superior films. Prior to the release of Cars 2, Cars was unquestionably the worst film that Pixar ever made… and it was still okay. Cars wasn’t horrible, it just wasn’t brilliant. That was the standard people were expecting from Pixar films.

Seriously compare reviews between animation companies. Here is the most common praise for other animation studios’ films: “they’re fun and pretty”. Here is the common praise for Pixar films: “moved me to tears”. Pretty big difference in reaction there.

In some ways I think it is the association with Disney that is causing people to distrust Pixar. Remember when Disney was king of animation and turned out classic after classic? That was before the dark times… before Michael Eisner and the relentless parade of unnecessary and unwanted sequels. Everyone loved Cinderella… did you know he turned that into the first part of a trilogy? It was no longer art for art’s sake, the films became a manufactured property designed to be marketed in every way possible (sequels, toys, cartoons). The result was a decline in quality. The Disney classic disappeared. That’s where Pixar came in.

In many ways, if anyone is ever curious as to how much Pixar and Disney (under Eisner) didn’t like each other, watch Ratatouille. Replace Remy the rat with Pixar, Chef Gusteau with Walt Disney and Chef Skinner with Michael Eisner. Incidently Pixar was going to leave Disney at one point and Ratatouille was originally envisioned as their first independent film: a film about an artist battling a greedy man obsessed with destroying an image… hmmmm.

But things changed and Pixar and Disney made up. Michael Eisner left and unnecessary sequels became a thing of the past… or did they? Unfortunately the common fear is that now Pixar has become the new corporation and are viewing their properties much in the same way that Disney used to view theirs. Even Toy Story 3, as great as that was: was that really necessary? Think of how Toy Story 2 ended:

A spectacular scene to end a series... until it was outdone in 2010. — A spectacular scene to end a series… until it was outdone in 2010.

Point is we forgave Pixar because Toy Story 3 was just that good. Imagine if that film had been only okay, the reaction to it would have been very negative. But now was Cars 2 and Monsters University, two other sequels/prequels no one was asking for, audiences are starting to get worried. Is Pixar out of ideas? Are they just going to make sequels or prequels to ever movie, regardless of how few people want it. This may be overreacting, I mean it’s not like they’re making another Finding Nemo…

Ah shit. This is real by the way, coming in 2015.

I loved Finding Nemo but that was not a movie that screamed sequel… or even whispered it. Maybe there is something to worry about. Three of the last four animated Pixar films have been off of existing properties. Maybe they are running out of new ideas. It is worth noting that their next film, The Good Dinosaur, is not a sequel or a prequel. So they are still making some new content… but will it be only as good as Brave?

Pixar was, at one point, the company to replace Disney in terms of quality animated films. They are now on the verge of replacing Disney in terms of unnecessary and unwanted sequels. For the record, I don’t think things are as bad as the Eisner days. As I stated at the beginning, Monsters University does not feel like a cash grab and Cars 2 was a mad passion pursuit by director John Lasseter. I do express some nervousness for the company’s future, however. The “Golden Age” is definitely over and there comes a day where every king falls to a successor.

Cash grabs also don't tend to introduce so many new characters. Also Nathan Fillion is a voice in this movie: go see it. — Cash grabs don’t tend to introduce so many new characters. Also Nathan Fillion is a voice in this movie: go see it.

Thoughts? Comments? Am I full of it or onto something? Let me know now in the feedback section of this article.

An Unexpected Journey Unexpectedly a lot like the Fellowship of the Ring

Posted on June 24, 2013 by Colin McMahon

The past weekend in Montreal was humid and rainy making it downright unpleasant to be outside (apart from going for the occasional run). As a result, the weather prompted the decision for a Lord of the Rings Extended Edition marathon. Really I will look for any excuse to do this – I love those movies. But wait, there’s another one now. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has not received the same reception as its predecessors. Overall the feelings have been positive but there are a lot of fans of the book out there who did not take kindly to Peter Jackson’s liberally epic adaptation (well the first part of it anyway). I am not one of those fans. I love The Hobbit, it is one of my favorite books but I take no issue with the first part of Jackson’s trilogy. Yes there are some scenes that obviously exist solely for the sake of setup (White Council, I’m looking at you) but as long as there is a pay off in the later films, I’m fine with it. The movie trilogy is not the simple story but then it never had a chance to be. Going back to a simple adventure after the release of Lord of the Rings would have been a difficult if not impossible tonal shift.

But reviews aside, this is not a review. The only reason I mention the fact that there are those who like and not the other is because I find it odd. Really, after watching the two back-to-back (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey followed by Fellowship of the Ring), those two movies are very similar. Both films carry a lighthearted tone and are adventure/journey movies with a subplot of pursuit. I could write more but, in the case of this article, let’s let pictures be worth thousands of words.

Both films begin with a fairly epic prologue before cutting to the Shire for Bilbo's 111th birthday. — Both films begin with a fairly epic prologue before cutting to the Shire for Bilbo’s 111th birthday.

Both films then have a hobbit who is shaken out of his normal life by an unexpected visit from Gandalf.

We are then introduced to new characters including the obvious comic relief.

And a disgraced figure of noble heritage.

I will interrupt right here to acknowledge a difference. In the Fellowship of the Ring, the full fellowship is not formed until they reach Rivendell. In An Unexpected Journey, the full fellowship is formed right away. It is a difference, however let’s keep going and see how much it really breaks up the structural similarities.

Both parties encounter difficulties when Gandalf is strangely absent from a situation he should be present in.

Luckily they receive some speedy aid to help them reach safety. (Incidentally the above quote is included because it is just that awesome).

Where the party briefly rests... — Where the party briefly rests…

And there is a council wherein new information is revealed. Most of this information isn't relevant until later films. — And there is a council wherein new information is revealed. Most of this information isn’t relevant until later films.

Well back on the road again. Both parties first take mountain roads where they suffer from extreme weather which turns out not to be related to normal weather patterns.

To a gave teaming with orcs/goblins. — To a cave teaming with orcs/goblins.

Here we encounter another diversion. There is no equivalent of Lothlórien in An Unexpected Journey. Wait, maybe there is. In Lothlórien, Frodo is tempted by the ring. There is a pause in the action while he has dialogue with a being who knows more about the ring than he does. This being (Galadriel) reveals to Frodo the dangers of what happens when one becomes too absorbed by the ring and does not resist its temptations. Frodo then leaves with a new resolve for his quest. Hmm, might there be something similar in An Unexpected Journey?

Once that's done we got pursuit again. — Once that’s done we got pursuit again.

Ending in a face-off between the pursuer and the disgraced noble character. — Climaxing in a face-off between the pursuer and the disgraced noble character.

Ending with a scene celebrating friendship.

An ending forecasting darker challenges to come. — And forecasting darker challenges to come.

So there you have it. There are a few other scene similarities there that I didn’t mention but I think I made my point.

Yes, there are differences to be sure. Overall the main difference in the films comes down to tone. The Fellowship of the Ring is darker with more focus on the presence of evil (since the ring is the focus) whereas An Unexpected Journey focuses more on being a light adventure. Both films end of relatively high notes. No one dies at the end of An Unexpected Journey (sorry Sean Bean) but Thorin comes near death in a scene that is set up incredibly similar to Lurtz’s execution of Boromir. Are the two movies exactly the same: no. Is it valid to like one and not the other: sure. But you have to admit, they are quite similar in terms of their setup.

For any out there who still doubt me, I encourage watching the two films together… followed by The Two Towers and The Return of the King (extended editions of course) cause why not? As we look ahead to the next two Hobbit films, I can’t help but wonder if the trend will continue. I’m calling it right now: The Desolation of Smaug will end on a down note. Smaug will be destroyed, signifying the end of a great battle (like Helms Deep) and a new, more powerful threat (the Necromancer) will take center stage. Just a prediction.

Thoughts? Comments? Am I full of it or onto something? Let me know now in the feedback section of this article.