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LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Shazam! (2019) in Movies
May 14, 2019 (Updated Dec 15, 2019)
A refreshing, and often humourous entry into the otherwise troubled DCEU
Contains spoilers, click to show
I went into Shazam! with low expectations, after not being particularly taken with the majority of past DCEU films.
I left feeling pretty positive about the whole goofy experience.
As with most DC material, the film starts on a fairly dark note, introducing us to a young Dr Sivana (a truly old school super villain, dating all the way back to the late 30s).
After a bit of back story as to why he gets all villainy, the movie wastes no time introducing us to Billy Batson (Asher Angel) and the rest of his foster family, and the movie succeeds in making all of the younger characters likable.
After a bit of comic book magic, we're eventually acquainted with the true power of Shazam!
Zachary Levi absolutely shines as he clearly relishes in playing this goofy, excitable teenager trapped in the body of a God. He bounces back and forth with Jack Dylan Grazer pretty well, and for the most part the relentless stream of jokes land nicely.
The film starts to waiver slightly towards the end, as the story hurtles towards a standard comic book movie CGI showdown, with a by the numbers comic book movie performance from Mark Strong, and some sketchy CGI cloud monsters, but it's hard not to grin with the surprise introduction of the Shazam! family (something I would surely expect from a sequel).
Shazam! also struggles at times to balance it's humour with it's more serious beats, but for the most part is an enjoyable origin story that the whole family can enjoy.
I left feeling pretty positive about the whole goofy experience.
As with most DC material, the film starts on a fairly dark note, introducing us to a young Dr Sivana (a truly old school super villain, dating all the way back to the late 30s).
After a bit of back story as to why he gets all villainy, the movie wastes no time introducing us to Billy Batson (Asher Angel) and the rest of his foster family, and the movie succeeds in making all of the younger characters likable.
After a bit of comic book magic, we're eventually acquainted with the true power of Shazam!
Zachary Levi absolutely shines as he clearly relishes in playing this goofy, excitable teenager trapped in the body of a God. He bounces back and forth with Jack Dylan Grazer pretty well, and for the most part the relentless stream of jokes land nicely.
The film starts to waiver slightly towards the end, as the story hurtles towards a standard comic book movie CGI showdown, with a by the numbers comic book movie performance from Mark Strong, and some sketchy CGI cloud monsters, but it's hard not to grin with the surprise introduction of the Shazam! family (something I would surely expect from a sequel).
Shazam! also struggles at times to balance it's humour with it's more serious beats, but for the most part is an enjoyable origin story that the whole family can enjoy.
The Marinated Meeple (1848 KP) rated O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2001) in Movies
Apr 1, 2018
Humor (5 more)
Small Moments
The Soggy Bottom Boys
the epic adventure that ensues
John Tuturro
The Soundtrack.
An epic rambling cinematic adventure and a gem that is filled with humor and amazing moments... my favorite Coen brothers film.
I just love this movie.... George Clooney as the smooth and fast talking pretty boy... and John Turturro and Tim Blake Nelson. I don't think there is a performance that falls short of excellent from the entire cast. Even the blind Radio Station Man. The soundtrack alone gets played a lot on my iPod. I love the old timey feel and the great rhythm. It's so damn catchy. The whole thing feels like an epic goofy journey and it's inspired by Homer, so you know it's good. For added goodness, here's some alternate movie posters...
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Alice in Wonderland (1951) in Movies
Dec 16, 2019
The Mad Hatter
Alice in Wonderland- is a classic fantastic movie. The animation is phenomenal like with all disney classic animation movies. The story is excellent. The charcters are really intresting. I love this movie like with other disney classic animation movies.
The Plot: When Alice (Kathryn Beaumont), a restless young British girl, falls down a rabbit hole, she enters a magical world. There she encounters an odd assortment of characters, including the grinning Cheshire Cat (Sterling Holloway) and the goofy Mad Hatter (Ed Wynn). When Alice ends up in the court of the tyrannical Queen of Hearts (Verna Felton), she must stay on the ruler's good side -- or risk losing her head.
I had a good time rewatching this movie and so will you if you have the chance.
The Plot: When Alice (Kathryn Beaumont), a restless young British girl, falls down a rabbit hole, she enters a magical world. There she encounters an odd assortment of characters, including the grinning Cheshire Cat (Sterling Holloway) and the goofy Mad Hatter (Ed Wynn). When Alice ends up in the court of the tyrannical Queen of Hearts (Verna Felton), she must stay on the ruler's good side -- or risk losing her head.
I had a good time rewatching this movie and so will you if you have the chance.
Alice in Wonderland (1951)
7.9
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The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)
6.9
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Strange Brew (1983)
6.0
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Jeremiah Zagar recommended Hopscotch (1980) in Movies (curated)
Lee KM Pallatina (951 KP) rated The Forbidden Kingdom (2008) in Movies
Jul 10, 2021
Casting (2 more)
Plot
Special effects
No sequel (1 more)
Seemed a little familiar in more ways than one
The First Karate kid
Loosely Based on Chinese mythology, kung fu legends Jackie Chan and Jet Li Co star in this fun adventure loosely based on Chinese mythology.
Full of stunning visual effects and kung fu moves as only they can do, this punch (and kick) adventure places the two in anchient China, when an everyday teen hooked on Goofy but classic kung fu movies is mysteriously thrown back in time where here meets the drunken master (Chan) and a mysterious Monk (Li).
Together the two must train the boy to fight as the chosen protector of the staff of the Monkey King in a journey to return it to its master.
Then they can kill each other (movie joke).
Full of stunning visual effects and kung fu moves as only they can do, this punch (and kick) adventure places the two in anchient China, when an everyday teen hooked on Goofy but classic kung fu movies is mysteriously thrown back in time where here meets the drunken master (Chan) and a mysterious Monk (Li).
Together the two must train the boy to fight as the chosen protector of the staff of the Monkey King in a journey to return it to its master.
Then they can kill each other (movie joke).
Gareth von Kallenbach (971 KP) rated Funny People (2009) in Movies
Aug 9, 2019
We all have our favorite Adam Sandler movies. There are the fans of The Wedding Singer and 50 First Dates and there’s the loyal camp who can quote Happy Gilmore or Big Daddy verbatim. You hear the name Adam Sandler’s and you think goofy, lovable guy. Dependably funny and quotable, from the mid-90’s on, he was the go-to comedian when we looked for an easy laugh. Of late, with the growing list of popular movies under his belt, when you think goofy, lovable funny guy, another name comes up: Seth Rogan. In “Funny People” you get them both.
Sandler plays George Simmons, a popular comedian who’s diagnosed with a fatal disease. Playing a comedian is hardly a stretch for Sandler, but for one whose dramatic turns can be counted on one hand, he plays the stricken man who’s suddenly face to face with his immortality quite convincingly. Rogan is Ira Wright, a desperate young comic who’s still vying for stage time at the local comedy club. George, perhaps recognizing a bit of himself or seeing a glimmer of comedic genius in Ira after catching his act, hires Ira to write for him.
Ira goes from writer and personal assistant/confidante to opening act as he helps George deal with his illness. He encourages the veteran comedian to reconnect with his compatriots in the business, opening the film to a parade of old faces from the stand-up circuit. George’s reflections on his life eventually lead him back to a lost love, Laura, played by Leslie Mann. Amidst the funny, laugh-out-loud scenes, are some believably tender moments, not just between Mann and Sandler but also, oddly enough, Sandler and Rogan.
Directing the comedic duo is writer/director Judd Apatow, who gave Rogan that growing list of successful movies after first casting him in The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Sandler could certainly use some of Apatow’s Midas-like touch after his recent string of marginal films. With a strong supporting cast of Jonah Hill and Jason Schwartzman who play Ira’s roommates Leo and Mark and Eric Bana, Laura’s husband, the movie is in turns hilarious and puzzling. The strong storyline of a veteran comedian taking a novice comic under his wings gets lost when George pursues a second chance with an unhappily married Laura. What could’ve been a touching passing of the torch tale is confused by an annoying love triangle. When the movie returns its focus to George and Ira, it’s saved, just barely, by the fact that we’re still watching two of comedy’s goofy, lovable funny guys.
Sandler plays George Simmons, a popular comedian who’s diagnosed with a fatal disease. Playing a comedian is hardly a stretch for Sandler, but for one whose dramatic turns can be counted on one hand, he plays the stricken man who’s suddenly face to face with his immortality quite convincingly. Rogan is Ira Wright, a desperate young comic who’s still vying for stage time at the local comedy club. George, perhaps recognizing a bit of himself or seeing a glimmer of comedic genius in Ira after catching his act, hires Ira to write for him.
Ira goes from writer and personal assistant/confidante to opening act as he helps George deal with his illness. He encourages the veteran comedian to reconnect with his compatriots in the business, opening the film to a parade of old faces from the stand-up circuit. George’s reflections on his life eventually lead him back to a lost love, Laura, played by Leslie Mann. Amidst the funny, laugh-out-loud scenes, are some believably tender moments, not just between Mann and Sandler but also, oddly enough, Sandler and Rogan.
Directing the comedic duo is writer/director Judd Apatow, who gave Rogan that growing list of successful movies after first casting him in The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Sandler could certainly use some of Apatow’s Midas-like touch after his recent string of marginal films. With a strong supporting cast of Jonah Hill and Jason Schwartzman who play Ira’s roommates Leo and Mark and Eric Bana, Laura’s husband, the movie is in turns hilarious and puzzling. The strong storyline of a veteran comedian taking a novice comic under his wings gets lost when George pursues a second chance with an unhappily married Laura. What could’ve been a touching passing of the torch tale is confused by an annoying love triangle. When the movie returns its focus to George and Ira, it’s saved, just barely, by the fact that we’re still watching two of comedy’s goofy, lovable funny guys.
Chris Hooker (419 KP) rated Zombie's Y'All in Books
Jan 12, 2018
I was excited to get this book as to review from LibraryThing since I now reside in Savannah. I wasn't disappointed. The description of the city locations were spot on and the students described the type you can find all over Savannah due to the local art college.
The story was a different take on zombies, which in this zombie infested market is hard to accomplish. The zombies are ghost zombies destroying one of Savannah's most well known attractions, it's ghosts.
The characters remind me of Carl Hiaasen's. The smart, the goofy and the clueless. All unique and entertaining. This is a very character driven novel.
My only complaint was the use of the Asian stereo type when the characters had a conversation. I did not feel this was necessary. Although, over all I would recommend this book.
The story was a different take on zombies, which in this zombie infested market is hard to accomplish. The zombies are ghost zombies destroying one of Savannah's most well known attractions, it's ghosts.
The characters remind me of Carl Hiaasen's. The smart, the goofy and the clueless. All unique and entertaining. This is a very character driven novel.
My only complaint was the use of the Asian stereo type when the characters had a conversation. I did not feel this was necessary. Although, over all I would recommend this book.