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Reviews
Rick and Morty (2013)
My life wouldn't be complete without Rick and Morty.
I understand that the credibility of this review may be questioned, but I strongly feel that Rick and Morty is the best animated show in the Western-- no, entire world.
It is so unbelievably well written and well thought out, I'm always baffled by what the creators churn out, they must be superhuman. There is so much creativity, humour, and sheer wit packed into one episode, each is so radically different from the last, exploring an intriguing new premise every time.
All the characters are lovable, the banter between Rick and Morty seems so natural, you get a feeling that their dialogue is improvised in the best possible way, their stutters and verbal ticks make them sound so authentic that it's hard not believe that they're real humans. The animations are unique, sometimes beautiful, the designs of the aliens Rick and Morty encounter are so imaginative. The minds behind Rick and Morty are no doubt geniuses, how do they dream up these episodes and put them onto paper? I get shivers just thinking about it-- oh my god I love Rick and Morty so much!
There's my rant. Just writing this filled me with a warm glowing feeling inside my gut that I only ever enjoy in times of intimacy with my partner or outstanding moments experienced with close friends and family. I'd hate to be that person who says 'Rick and Morty helped me overcome my mental illness', because that isn't true-- but I've genuinely felt like I have started experiencing a better quality of life after having known Rick and Morty.
I watch the episodes over and over again in my spare time, my favourites would be the two episodes that feature the inter dimensional cable, because of the hilarious and creative improv, but my number one is the episode in which parasites that embed themselves in your memory as loved ones or quirky characters take over the house, there are lots of funny scenarios in that episode.
I can't wait until the third season, this show has captivated me to the extent that I feel unable to watch inferior animated shows. I hope people agree with me enough to let this review remain on this website.
sincerely, Alex.
Red Dog (2011)
It was only successful because it was an "Australian film"
Directed by Kriv Stenders, Red Dog is about a small desolate community of miners who bond and unite under the local stray known to them as Red Dog. When Red Dog loses his master, he sets out to find him on a legendary journey that inspires those around him.
Red Dog could have been a truly meaningful movie, but too many attempts at international and family appeal resulted in an endless array of childish clichés. I could imagine future viewers rolling their eyes every time the characters scold Red Dog for farting or some other awkward bodily function. The biggest cliché offender was a fight scene between Red Dog and "Red Cat" that seemed to be plucked straight out of 'Looney Tunes' when the two animals clashed in a literal tornado of dust and paws. Physical comedy and clichés subtracted immensely from the overall quality of the movie.
What could have been an arsenal of authentic characters, instead diminished into racial stereotypes, with quirky backstories, thrown in to keep the movie from becoming tedious. Like the Italian, named Vanno, who had nothing going for him but his borderline racist rants about his hometown, or Peeto whose single purpose seems to be to act like an Australian stereotype. What was disappointing was how intriguing characters (like the Russian men, the harmonica player, the local policeman, Vanno's love interest, and even the sun-burned man who spoke Chinese all seemed like potentially entertaining characters), instead were given 15 seconds of fame and then vanished into background extras. The main character John Grant (Josh Lucas) was just as dull as the secondary characters, except he wasn't a complete stereotype. Sadly, the other main character Nancy (Rachel Taylor) seemed to be thrown in to serve the purpose as a love interest for John. Fortunately, Rachel Taylor's great acting allowed Nancy to develop into one of the movie's main characters. Everything aside, the movie had an excellent cast, but the characters needed more attention.
The one thing that stood out in the movie was the cinematography and camera work, each shot from landscape to close-up was done elegantly. Unfortunately, the director got too carried away and began bombarding the screen with montages. It became apparent that this excessive use of montages was almost like the director was trying to rush through the story. It seemed like the film script was: side character meets Red Dog, side character spends montage with Red Dog, something significant happens to character, rinse and repeat. I felt compelled to check to see if I hadn't sat on my remote and triggered the fast forward button. I felt that the director could have spent less time on montages and more time developing the characters and plot.
Due to sponsorship from large mining industries like Rio Tinto, Red Dog was packed with mining advertisements. Scene after scene, trailers full of minerals are seen crawling across the landscape. There is absolutely no mining in the actual movie, the producers would rather have the 'miners' sit around and do nothing than put the horrendous sight of an open-cut mine on camera and risk their sponsor's disapproval. In the 1970's miners were paid little and worked in dangerous conditions. The miners in the movie seem oblivious to this as they are constantly going to the pub and betting. They should be rioting, not having hoedowns! In the movie they claim to be multicultural miners, yet they are all white Europeans, despite records of Asian migrants mining in Australia as far back as the gold rush. Even though this was an Australian movie, there were no indigenous Australians. In the real mining industry in the 1970's there were disputes over land between the mining companies and the tribes who lived there, this is not mentioned in the movie.
The writer, producers, and director could have used the true nature of the mining industry to their advantage. This could have been a movie about a small community of poor miners trying to make a living under the demanding regime of the mining industry, who turn to the stray - Red Dog for comfort. As Vanno said " he is a dog for everybody, but no one in particular". Addressing things like the treatment of miners, the mining industry's disrespect for the indigenous people, hope and friendship could have created increased interest in the movie.
What looked to be an esteemed Australian classic, turned out to be a cheesy Australian combination of Lassie and Grown-ups 2 with a mining theme. Red Dog was just another Aussie movie to bite the dust.
Lego: The Adventures of Clutch Powers (2010)
The Lego Movie: The Bad One
It was certainly very hilarious, ultimately a bad movie, but hilarious. I don't know whether it was the inconsistent and downright weird story, the awkward embarrassing characters who despite the efforts of the writers, come off as cliché, or the weird childish humour that even actual children would find contrived and condescending. The animation, although fluent, looked almost sub-par and made me get chills form looking at character's creepy faces.
So why did I give it such a high rating? Because when I watched it with my friends back when we were kids, I saw that it definitely has the potential to become a cult film, think "The Room" for kids. My friends and I found ourselves laughing our asses off, not at how good the movie was, but laughing as one would laugh whilst watching "Sharknado" or "Birdemic: Shock and Terror". I could see drinking games created from this movie, drink every time a failed reference to Lego is made, or drink every time a character says "We build on Each Other" (That line alone made the movie for me).
If I ever have to babysit children, and they ask me to play the Lego Movie for them, I would play this one just for kicks. Clutch powers is legendary, and is so under-rated, it should be up there with all the other big cult movie titles out there. 10/10, 10/10, 100/100, best movie, BEST MOVIE! Show everyone this, we need to get the word out to the world that this movie exists!