MOVIE: The Incredibles (2004)

by benmweilertNo Comments
The IncrediblesYear: 2004Rating: PGLength: 115 minutes / 1.92 hours With so many superhero movies having been released in the last two decades, it’s amazing to consider that one of the best superhero films ever created came years before the start of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and had no connections to any comic books or other previous superhero media. Sure, other franchises touched on the core aspects of this film, but its execution was so flawless that I consider it the de facto singular superhero film. That movie is The Incredibles (2004). The closest that any franchise gets to what The Incredibles is about is probably X-Men (2000), since both deal with superheroes as a family unit as well as needing to hide their powers to fit into a society that is weaker than they are. That The Incredibles also includes aspects of the nuclear family—like being a supportive spouse or caring parent—adds to its legacy. Using common superpowers in a way to...
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MOVIE: The Iron Giant (1999)

by benmweilertNo Comments
The Iron GiantYear: 1999Rating: PGLength: 86 minutes / 1.43 hours There's something magical about a coming of age story where a young boy befriends an alien entity. The Iron Giant (1999) is among the ranks of E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) and How to Train Your Dragon (2010) for these similar stories with equally magical results. I'm not sure if the moral of these films is that adults are more likely to want to kill what they don't understand or if there's an inherent peaceful nature to every creature—at least until it's threatened with violence. What works well for The Iron Giant is the Red Scare of the 1950s providing a backdrop for the fear of unknown technology. Having just demonstrated the power of nuclear weapons in World War II, the titular giant can be seen as both a helpful and extremely dangerous entity. The ability of children to assume the innocence of things they don't understand sits in stark contrast to...
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MOVIE: Ratatouille (2007)

by benmweilertNo Comments
RatatouilleYear: 2007Rating: GLength: 111 minutes / 1.85 hours There are few films that hit home quite like Ratatouille (2007) does. Not only is it a gorgeously animated representation of French cooking (and cooking in general), but its message about pursuing your creative dreams despite the obvious challenges is an important one. I think this film and La La Land (2016) both speak volumes about what it means to work in creative spaces. True talent will rise to the top, but only if they have the grit to keep with it. I have a soft spot for Brad Bird's films, and Ratatouille is no exception. The theme of exceptional outsiders strings through from The Iron Giant (1999) to The Incredibles (2004) and really lands here in Ratatouille. While there are so many movies out there that tell you to "follow your dreams," Ratatouille does so with such a juxtaposition that you figure it would never happen. Rats are dirty, so how could one...
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