Category Archives: Movies

Frozen 2

Disney is going through a round of sequels and I think that Frozen 2 might have surpassed them all. This movie was simply incredible and I hope you all consider watching it soon. I think that this is the next must-see of 2019 and I hope you all see it as fast as you can.

I know that a feeling a lot of my friends had about the first movie was that it was a good movie but it became too popular to the point that everyone got sick of it. So I know that I was worried if this was just to ride on Frozen’s coattails or be an actually good film. But my worst fears were unfounded because this was an amazing movie in its own right.

One thing that I did want to put out there is that this movie isn’t as child-friendly (at least to me) as the first one. In the first movie, there are a few scary bits that could seem quite alarming especially whenever Marshmallow is on screen but there is also quite a bit of thematic climax like when we see Anna freeze. In this movie, There is nothing quite as visually scary as Marshmallow but there are quite a few climactic scenes that are not for the faint of heart.

Think that is is a movie for an older audience more than the first one. Kristen Bell (Anna) said in an interview “This movie has matured along with its audience.” This was a movie that was full of character development and an ever-changing plot and that is something that is much more enjoyable to an older audience. Because of how much of the screen time was put into plot development I think that younger children will get bored and have a hard time following the movie.

In conclusion, this is an amazing movie and I think that everyone should watch it. The graphics were amazing, the music was incredible, and the plot was well developed. Comment below if you have seen it and what you thought of it and if you haven’t, well what are you waiting for go watch it! Also, let me know in the comments what you want to hear from me next about. I am trying to get back into writing and I would love to hear your feedback about what I should be writing.

Nerdpie

Toy Story 4 Is Out!

 

Hey guys! It’s Nerdpud, and today we’re talking about Toy Story 4. I really like this one more than any of the other ones. One of my favorite things about it was how it embraced time passing and that things don’t stay the same. I also liked how it doesn’t sugarcoat that it can be hard to move on and things changing isn’t always easy. Now to discuss the actual story. In the beginning of Toy Story, A kid named Bonnie finds a box full of toys, and Andy,being a good person, lets her keep all the toys. Then we see a couple of years later, when Bonnie is going to her first day of Kindergarten. There she takes some craft supplies and, being lonely, creates her new best friend, Forky, out of a spork, some glue, googly eyes, and popsicle sticks. Then Forky thinks he is just trash and tries to throw himself away, while Woody tries to stop him along side his friends. The main basis of this one was showing that it isn’t just about the toys, but about caring for their child, no matter where they go. I really liked this one more than the others because it is relatable for people with younger siblings. I myself am a youngest child, so I cannot directly relate to this, but I do understand how it could feel like all the love goes to the youngest, and there is no love left for all the others. I also really liked how they explained why Bo Peep wasn’t in Toy Story 3, and I think they did a good job of pretty much ending the series of the beloved Toy Story movies.








Ralph Breaks the Internet

I may just be saying this because I got to go for free, but my honest opinion is this movie is just on the whole great, and is chock full of story, references, and good lines, telling a touching and passionate story. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Ralph Breaks the Internet is about what happens when Litwak’s Family Fun Center & Arcade gets internet. Like in the Emoji Movie, when Ralph and Vanellope von Schweetz go into the internet they encounter a lot of things that are familiar things to us, including the annoying pop-up ads and helpful search bar. This movie is a great combination of a cartoony storyline, the crazy fun and awesome experience of the internet, and a touching tale of friendship and insecurity. I think this movie can teach everyone something, small or large, and ties in so much story as well as some pretty awesome action scenes. It has many touching moments and shows scenes that are true for both cartoon characters and real people.

I only have one complaint about this movie. It shows us glimpses of many different links in the Disney chain, like Star Wars, Marvel, Muppets, and has more Disney princess participation than you would think. But they don’t really tie together in the end. I would have loved a Jedi jumping out of a spaceship to hit the big bad guy, or we saw the Muppets running around and helping out, but that is a super minor thing and really depends on how much you enjoy the Disney crossovers.

Stepping back and looking at the movie, it is great. It is the best Disney movie that I’ve seen in a while (Excluding MARVEL movies, but they rock.). There is something for everyone, and both I and my dad loved watching it because there were just so many different themes in the same movie. Let me give you some advice, though. Stay till the end, because there may or may not be a sneak peek for Frozen 2. (But you didn’t hear it from me!)








Nutcracker and The Four Realms

I was so excited to get to go to a preview with my mom and see this movie because I have been a fan of the Nutcracker ever since I was little. We would watch it every year before Christmas. And this movie exceeds my expectations very well. It was neither cheesy nor overdone and it was amazing. My only problem was that there was not enough dancing or Misty Copeland but other than that it was incredible.

The great thing about this movie is home it took its inspiration from the different originals. The realms are inspired by the tour of the fairyland that Clara takes with her prince. They did a good job of the picking and choosing what should go into it and what should be left out.

I think that the music was my favorite part. They stuck to the music score we all know and love and set it to a whirlwind of different scenes. They had a Ballet with the starring role played by Misty Copeland that was exquisite and of course, it was set to the original music but the truly incredible part is the way that they added the music to almost every scene without making it seem forced, it was truly a work of art.

I have already been asked by others “Was it scary?” and “Would you say that children can see it?” and I would say that it was just a touch scary but no more so than the original. I know that I used to be scared of the scene where Clara faces the Mouse King and it would frighten me but then I would always laugh when Clara would hit the Mouse King with her shoe.

This is definitely going to be added to our watch list for Christmases to come. I am very excited to show the rest of my family this movie. I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone whether they are huge fans of the Nutcracker or have never seen it. This movie has that something special for everyone. Once you have seen it let me know down in the comments how you liked it and what your favorite part was.

NerdPie

 

(Disclosure: I watched the movie courtesy of Disney but all opinions and thoughts are mine.)








Incredibles: The Wait Ends


 

Well, I am calling it, the wait for Incredibles 2 was totally worth it. Disney generously let my mom, my sister, and I to attend a preview this week and it made me so happy. It was a great family movie and we got to see each of the characters really grow in this movie. There was lots of humor in this movie but it didn’t feel like it was forced in. I loved the balance between the humor (of which there were loads) and the fight scenes.

One thing that thrilled me about this movie was that with the restraints the creators put in the original world, all of the events that take place feel like they were natural progression instead of events forced to create drama. A lot of movies including Marvel movies, have those moments where you are just like you could have done this and none of this would have happened.

I love that in the Incredibles universe it deals with the actual legal problems there would be if we had superheroes in the real world. And this movie continued in that line very well. It was the perfect mix of humor and action and I can strongly recommend it to everyone. 

One of the things that this movie really hit home for me was Jack-Jack. I loved the baby and all of his antics.  This baby looks like my friend’s son that I love, and I couldn’t stop seeing his antics in all of Jack-Jack hilarity. This baby is such an adorable baby even while he is getting up to regular baby hijinks. All I want for the next Incredibles movie is 2 hours of Jack-Jack just being a baby. 

In conclusion, Incredibles Two lives up to all the hype and was definitely worth the wait. There is nothing in this movie that would dissuade me from recommending it to all of my friends, and I hope you all get a chance to see it soon Let me know in the comments what you are most looking forward to in this movie and once you have seen it let me know who was your favorite character.

Nerdpie

(Disclosure: I did see the movie for free but all words, thoughts, and opinions are mine and mine alone.)








Coco: A thanksgiving movie.

The latest movie from Disney-Pixar after a year and a half is finally here; Coco! I, Nerdster, and my sister Nerdpud are here to tell you about some of our favorite parts of the movie.

Nerdpud: Coco was better than I thought. The animation and drawing were great and the story is good. My want to see Coco started when Roblox hosted an event about it. There was a funny video of a Xolo dog, like Dante in the movie, touring Pixar Animation Studios. I also found the setting interesting when I read a book called Ghosts, By Raina Telgemier. That is where I learned about Dia De Los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, and ofrendas. An ofrendas is a table decorated with a framed photo of someone and lots of offerings. There was some Spanish words, some that I knew like gracias (thank you) or si (yes). There were other Spanish words that I didn’t recognize, but caught their meaning because of the good flow between Spanish and English. I really enjoyed the movie!

Nerdster: I really enjoyed Coco. I was telling Nerdmom that she would love it and was right. I fell in love with this movie when I first heard about it. The trailers were vibrant and comical, and the drawing was amazing. My excitement grew when the Roblox Coco Event (now over) came. I went through and played every game in one day. When I finally saw the movie, it was even better than it was put up to be! While the story and background were set comically, the people and objects were very realistic and cool! The story revolves around one concept; remembering family. The main character, Miguel, had a great-great-Grandpa that his family had all but forgotten, and Miguel was just like him, but his family hates music because of that man. Miguel goes on a quest of self-discovery, taking him to the underworld. The music is great, and they move from Spanish to English often enough you get what they are saying. It is an amazing movie!

So now you know. I hope you enjoy as much as my family. See Coco in theaters now, and never forget your ancestors.








Doctor Strange is Finally Out!!! 6 Things You Need to Know

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Doctor Strange is finally out! Nerddad and I got a chance to see it last week at a preview and it was so good!!! Ok, this is just going to be a short post because I don’t want to ruin anything for anyone. But here is a list of a few things you need to know!

1) You must see it in 3D if you can. It is visually stunning! The effects are better than any of the Marvel movies so far. We saw it in 3D and are planning on going back to watch it again IMAX 3D. Just gorgeous.

2) Really sexually pure. There is literally 1 line that says the word lover and 1 kiss. That is it.

3) A little language. There are a few bad words but nothing to bad, probably the lesser end of all the Marvel movies.

4) It is a great plot. It covers Dr. Strange’s origin and is just good. They don’t try to take on too much in my opinion. That seems to allow for better plot development.

5)Stay through the credits. I shouldn’t have to tell you this but stay all the way until the very end of the credits. Don’t pop out half way through when they show the first extra.

6)Just take your kids and go!

(I was given passes to see the movie but all opinions are mine)








10 Movies Based on Books to Watch with Your Kids

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Nothing is better to relax than movie night with the family. It is a traditional holiday must have. But even watching movies can be a little nerdy. Here are 10 movies that are based on books! (And I didn’t include sequels but that doesn’t mean they aren’t good)

 

  1. Hobbit: Tolkein, do I really need to say more? Seriously, it was a well done adaption that will cause a lot of good conversations about what is true to the book and what isn’t. 
  2. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: This is also just a classic. C.S. Lewis told a great tale that is so much more than a story! 
  3. Emma: Now the Gweneth Paltrow version may be well known but I highly recommend the Romola Garai/ BBC version. It is truer to the book and all the characters have more depth. It is longer but all Austen movies are better longer;). Nerdpie delighted when it explained why Emma’s father was so protective. 
  4. Much Ado About Nothing: I absolutely love every version of this play I have seen be it Whedon’s, Branagh’s, or Tennant/Tate. But my absolute favorite is the Tennant/Tate version. It is the funniest and most family friendly version too.  All 4 of my kids loved it! 
  5. Wizard of Oz: People often forget that the Wizard of Oz was a book and it was part of a large series. The movie is a classic and a must see for every book and movie lover. 
  6. Harry Potter Series: The movies were great, the books were great. What more can be said? Except it is a wonderful voyage to take with your kids and is part of a cultural phenomenon. 
  7. Heidi: This is truly a heart warming tale. I remember reading the book and crying as a kid. But the movie seemed hopeful and a little happier. It was a great tale that shows relationships and family in its own form. It may seem cheesy to think about but it really was good!
  8. Ella Enchanted: I don’t remember people talking about this being a book but it is! My kids loved the book but the movie has music and dancing so they love it even more! It is fun and light. The author of the book has also written quite a bit so it might be a great introduction to a whole lot of reading. 
  9. Little Women: Family, life, and defining who you are. Those are big themes of Little Women. This is one of my all time favorite books. The Katherine Hepburn version is my favorite movie version. That may be because Jo is my favorite so I might be biased;). 
  10. Pride and Prejudice: Did you think Jane Austen would only appear once in this list? The Bennet sisters are a lesson to girls on how to be yourself and not get lured by bad guys. Mr. Darcy is a lesson to tween/teen boys on how important communication and being open is! I like many versions but Colin Firth is the only Mr. Darcy;). 

Those are our favorite book based movies. How about you? What are your favorite family literature based movies?

 

10daysbutton This is part of the 10 Days of Nerdy Fun!!! Make sure you hop over to see what other great post of nerdy fun that will be shared! 








A Look at Alice Through the Looking Glass

The Nerdpie and I were so excited to get a chance to check out the preview of Alice Through the Looking Glass this week! So come take a quick look at what we thoguht!

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I came into Alice Through the Looking Glass having seen the first installment, Alice in Wonderland. I enjoyed the first movie quite a bit. The Tim Burton look was really fascinating and I found the story a bit more compelling than usual adaptions. Based on what I knew of Alice Through the Looking Glass, I walked in expecting to be wowed visually, through the acting, and the plot.

I brought my 12 year old with me to the preview this week. She came from an entirely different experience. She hadn’t seen the first installment but she had read both books and loved them. Which means she came in with some specific book nerd expectations (that we can all relate too). I asked her before the movie began what her expectations were based on the commercials. She said that she expected more of a theme in the movie than there was in the book. She knew they were introducing Time as a character and she knew that more characters would recognize Alice. Apparently in the book she just wandered around in the second book, fairly unknown.

So how did is measure up?

We both really liked it! My expectations were totally met. The acting was quirky and great. I don’t know that I can watch anyone else as the Red Queen or the Mad Hatter. Even Tweedles are just perfect in this roles;). The look of the entire movie was also exquisite. The colors, costumes and background match the unique and vibrant story.

I also really loved the plot. It takes us to a world where Alice is older but still a relatively young adult. She is dealing with family, disappointment, the future, and time at the toll it takes on her life. And then she goes to Wonderland.

So what did Nerdpie think? Here is her 2 cents!

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I went to see Through the Looking Glass thinking that it would be like the book but it really wasn’t. I think that the only thing that they really kept was the name and the fact that Alice went through a looking glass. I really loved it but it’s not what I expected at all. I think that I would have better understood the begining if I had seen the first movie but I still got most of the content. I loved that they talked more about Alice’s life! In the book all you know about her is that she sat down after tea-time and she is a girl named Alice. But in the movies they talk more about her and who she is, which I really loved.I loved that the most because it had a plot where in the book it is just getting her home and there is nothing else on the plot line. The movie is all inter connected and that is the kind of movie I love!

(Disclosure: We received an opportunity to view the movie for free in order to give our honest thoughts. All thoughts and opinions are ours alone!)








Win Fandango Movie Tickets!

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I absolutely love the holidays. I love the time with family and the food and the activities and and and…. I need a break. What better break is there than the movies? There are always great holiday releases and of course this year we have Star Wars!

Have you got your tickets yet?

Star Wars Movie Tickets

Even if you want to avoid the Star Wars crowd this weekend, the movies are a fun and relaxing holiday tradition. What can be more relaxing than winning movie ticket codes? This will be the perfect treat for you or someone you love after Christmas!

Fandango has given me 3 movie ticket codes good for any movie to share with 1 reader! So check out the Rafflecopter to enter! And pop over to Fandango to buy some movie tickets;).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Disclosure: Fandango provided the prize and I have affiliate links. But all thoughts and opinions are mine!)