Wreck-It Ralph Review

So, when Wreck-it-Ralph first came out, I really wanted to go see it. However, I never had the chance to go. And finally, my friend and I sat down a while ago and watched it. I absolutely loved it! The animation, the story, and the characters are all so much fun. All of the references towards other video games was also enjoyable.

 

    The story is about a video game villain named Wreck-it-Ralph who no longer desires to be the bad guy and wants to be appreciated and loved. On his journey to prove himself worthy, he comes across many different fun characters and environments. I really enjoyed the concept of this film. There aren’t too many movies out there that focus on the “bad guys”, and it is interesting to see it in such a creative setting. I never would have imagined Disney creating a movie all about video games, and it is a very refreshing movie. I loved all of the subtle references to more adult video games like the red exclamation point from Metal Gear. The whole glitch idea with Vanellope was also brilliant! I won't spoil it for anyone, but I liked how the ending tied her character together in a way I didn't really expect. 

The animation in this movie was also very neat. Some of the characters still moved like they would in the actual video game. I appreciate the creators attention to such detail. I like how Disney has become more interesting in their plot progress on. I have a harder time predicting how the characters will reach the ending with current Disney, which makes it all the more exciting to go watch them. Wreck-It Ralph is a very fun movie, and if you haven't seen it, then I highly suggest it!

Naruto

So I began watching the anime Naruto in 2009, and I loved it. I enjoyed the characters and the original setting. Although a decent amount of the fights were slow, there was always some sort of interesting strategic twist at the end. However, as time has gone by within the series, what I had originally liked has slowly dwindled into an uninteresting and repetitive storyline, which began with Naruto: Shippuden. Now, mind you, this is my opinion. I don’t have anything against anyone who loves Naruto. I am only sharing how I feel about the progression of the plot and characters.

What I had really liked about Naruto before was the complexity of the characters. Their background stories were each interesting and unique. And seeing them grow up from what they were in their youth was so inspiring. However, ever since the series hit the time skip, the development of the characters has begun to decrease, and that was so incredibly disappointing. The fact that Kishimoto (the creator) built up these characters only to not use them to their full potential is such a setback. For example, Sakura Haruno is one of the characters that has plenty of potential, but she is constantly thrown aside so the other main characters can shine. She does get some character development, like in the Forest of Death where she cuts her hair and when she asks Tsunade to be her teacher. However, there are so many moments where her character could be better developed, such as her being more involved in the war and her team.

Nevertheless, there are moments where characters have lost a lot of potential because they have been developed too early and have lost an interest that existed before. An example of this is Naruto himself. In the series, currently, all he does is turn bad guys into good guys. It becomes annoying when the obstacles that the main character faces have no longer become immense obstacles. Obviously, there are exceptions to this such as Sasuke. But in the end, Naruto ends up converting or killing his enemies. I understand that Naruto is supposed to be the underdog that eventually becomes the hero, but I believe he has become the hero too soon. Now that he is respected and loved, any hardships that we had invested in with this character are gone. It’s difficult to still pay attention to a character that we have issues relating with.

Honestly, the plot of Naruto has been stretched out for way too long. I understand that the story of Naruto contains a lot of complexities, but what it used to be about is no longer there. The creator only cares about the powers among the overpowered characters. Battles are no longer about strategy and a blend of wits and strength. They revolve around who has the better powers and stats. It doesn’t feel intelligent at all. The emphasis on character has fallen apart too. It’s such a shame that a show with such great potential is wasted in that manner.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

Unlike some bronies/pegasisters out there, I had actually never heard of the newest My Little Pony show from anyone else before getting into it. I discovered My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic in 2011 on my own while I was on YouTube looking up Disney music. In the related videos section, I saw a video that featured one of the show’s songs “At the Gala”, and it had many views. This intrigued me, and as I watched it, I was quite taken with the quality of the music considering that it was made for kids. At this point, I wasn’t actually sure whether what I saw was a show or movie, so I looked around on YouTube. The first episode of MLP: FiM (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic) was episode 25, “Party of One”, where one of the main characters, Pinkie Pie, essentially goes insane because she believes her friends have rejected her. This episode shocked me. This wasn’t the My Little Pony I had grown up with at all. It was interesting, funny, and so much more enjoyable! The animation is beautiful and the stories and characters are so amusing. Not to mention, when I found out that Lauren Faust, the creator of Powerpuff Girls and Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, was the one that developed the show, it made me so happy because I’m a big fan of her works.

The overarching story is basically about a unicorn named Twilight Sparkle who is sent to Ponyville by her teacher, Princess Celestia, to learn about the magic of friendship with her group of friends. Each episode contains a lesson about friendship that Twilight and her friends report to Celestia at the end of every episode. The lessons presented by the creators are quite relatable as most of us have been through similar situations with our own friends, which makes the characters in the show relatable as well. The fact that I can relate to a technicolor pony on a kids show is proof that perhaps this show isn’t just for kids. Bronies, male fans of the show, have gotten a lot of grief for enjoying My Little Pony G4 (generation 4). Honestly, before entering the fandom, I might have been a little uncomfortable with the fact that adults males enjoy a girls show too. However, I completely understand why they love it now. This My Little Pony really isn’t a kids show but more of a family show. There is a big difference between a kids show and a family show. Family movies are like Disney movies, enjoyable at all ages and at any gender. MLP: FiM is not a girly kids show as some people may assume. It contains excellence moral lessons, music, adventure, comedy, emotion, and sometimes even action.

Something that surprised me is how complex some of the characters can be. Each pony of the Mane 6 is gifted with an Element of Harmony. These elements embody the character’s best character trait that is often displayed as they interact with others. However, just because the character embodies a certain trait, it doesn’t mean they are consistent with it. Let’s face it, real people aren’t going display the same traits all the time. For example, you may tend to be patient most of the time. But are you patient in every situation that has occurred in your life? Of course not, that’s what makes us deep and complex beings. This complexity is shown in the main ponies in the MLP. While they embodies certain traits, they aren’t always consistent with it. Rarity’s element is generosity, but she also struggles with selfishness when it comes to gems or fame. It’s one of the reasons that Rarity is my 3rd favorite in the show, with Fluttershy being 2nd and Princess Luna being 1st.

MLP brings complex characters and interesting settings/stories to the world of family shows. They have redefined what exactly a shown “meant for kids” can really do. The MLP:FiM fandom has grown so much, providing hundreds of new fanart, fanfiction, and fan-music every month. And while this fandom does have its own creeps and fanatics, it is still a very accepting group of fans. I have been a fan of this show for almost 3 years now, and I have to say that if you haven’t given MLP:FiM a chance yet, then you definitely should. Obviously, not everyone will like it, but it is worth at least one watch before you pass judgment.

   

BioShock Infinite Review

While the first and second Bioshock games are wonderful, Bioshock Infinite (the third installment of the series) was the best out of them all. While this game doesn’t necessarily follow the plotline in the previous Bioshock games, it still holds similar themes and concepts. The story takes place in 1912 at the floating city, Columbia, which is ruled by the “Founders” who enforce a theoretic government. What makes the setting so interesting is the fact that it is a dystopia disguised as a supposed utopia. The bright colors and beautiful buildings even assist in trying to make the player believe in this guise. Ironically, Colombia is a dark place with widespread racism and elitism. People within the minority are typically slaves and dominated. The racial segregation is so severe that interracial couples run the risk of public stoning. While this world is morally horrible, the scenery is quite fascinating. The game gives us a variety of different places to wander into. Not all of the buildings are the same inside and out. And as the game progresses, we get a new color palette every so often, giving the environment a fresh, but not overwhelming feeling. It’s quite nice being able to see variety in the scenery. Most games has their usual building models and colors, whereas BioShock Infinite explores a vast amount visuals.

The storyline of this game is also very interesting as most of the characters (especially the main character) are shrouded in mystery until the end. This is a great twist as we crave understanding the entire time the game is played, leaving very little room for boredom. The plot follows Booker DeWitt who is brought to Colombia after being told to “bring us the girl and wipe away the debt”. The city authority pursues Booker as they discover that he bears the letters “AD” on his hand, which match the description of the “False Shepherd” who legend foretells will corrupt Elizabeth and overthrow Colombia. Eventually, Booker makes it to Elizabeth and frees her from her tower, resulting in her being your companion for the rest of the game. Something that I really appreciated in this game is the fact that the support character isn’t useless. While she doesn’t fight in combat, she proves her use through different ways. Elizabeth picks locks and hands you gun ammo, health, and salts whenever you are low on supplies. And she also hands you money when she finds it. Elizabeth definitely redefines the role of a support character as she is both enjoyable and helpful along your quest.

          Something else I appreciated was the fact that they still kept the original elements of BioShock in this game. You still get powers, audio logs, and the upgrade machines. BioShock Infinite is fresh while not straying far from the initial game in the installment. I don’t want to give much away about the rest of the story of BioShock Infinite, but I will say that ending caught me off-guard, and it was amazing. If you haven’t play this game yet, you need to. The astounding graphics, storyline, and characters are definitely worth your time and money.

What If Star Wars Episodes I and II Were Good?

So, a lot people disliked the newer Star Wars episodes (1-3), and I have to say that I didn’t care for them either. I personally think that episode 1 was the worst out them all. However, are there ways that these new Star Wars movies could have been done better? Is there any potential within these films at all? Actually, yes. As I was on YouTube, I stumbled upon a user named BelatedMedia who goes through the first two episodes of Star Wars and changes them into his own version while still keeping everything true to the Star Wars world. And what he does with these movies is fantastic! He is able to modify the script from an absolute mess into a coherent plotline. I loved his points on what was wrong because there were a few problems I didn’t even notice before watching his video. You guys should take a look at his videos below!

Just a warning, there is a lot of bad language in these videos.

 

 

I think one of the biggest issues in the first movie was the fact that there wasn’t really a main character established. You sort just jump from character to character within the movie, and it gets confusing. The fact that BelatedMedia focused more upon Obi-Wan is a great solution because the story is supposed to be through his perspective, and the first movie clearly lacks that. The other two movies bring him in more, but Obi-Wan wasn’t really the main character in the first one. As for the second movie, the relationship between Obi-Wan and Anakin was clearly the worst problem. As an audience, we are supposed to care when we see the two eventually fight each other in the last film. But such feelings remain difficult when that relationship doesn’t even feel established in the first place. BelatedMedia gives us great insight on how the relationship could have flourished as well as smoothing out the plot. He does a great job reconstructing both of these films and I personally cannot wait until he releases his changes on the third Star Wars movie!

Frozen Review

I can’t even begin to say how excited I was to see Frozen. I had been following the progress of the movie since the summer time. I finally saw it on Saturday with my younger sister, and we both absolutely loved it. Frozen is such an enjoyable and adorable movie. The animation is so beautiful! I love how much detail went into the snow and ice. You could even see the snow on Olaf sparkling like it naturally would in real life. The scene with Elsa’s song “Let It Go” was incredibly stunning. The way the animators constructed her ice castle was gorgeous, and Idina Menzel’s singing made it even better. The animation in Tangled was great, but Frozen took it another step ahead. The character designs are also beautiful; I adore Elsa’s “snow queen” outfit. If you look closely at her hair, you can see little snowflakes in her fish tail braid.

Something I really enjoyed about the film was the core theme of family and inner conflict. It’s so interesting to see a Disney film where there is no overarching established villain. The main “villain” is basically the inner conflict of Elsa, making the antagonist more of a character vs. self and/or character vs. nature. This also makes Elsa such an interesting character. She is definitely one of my favorite Disney princesses now. Her relationship with her sister is also very fascinating and relatable as they are both very much opposites, which reminds me of my relationship with my sister. Ana is also great princess. Her fearless optimism is inspiring and hilarious. Also, when I went into this film, I sincerely thought that Olaf the snowman would be one of those obnoxious characters, but he turned out to be a funny, entertaining support character. The creators of the movie knew exactly when to bring him in for a laugh and when to take him out for the development of other characters or emotional scenes or action scenes. It’s refreshing to see a nice balance of humor and emotion.

I won’t give any spoilers, but the ending of the movie was just brilliant. I loved how they kept true to the family/sister relationship theme up until the very end even when the opportunity arose to turn it into something else that most Disney movies do. Their portrayal of true love was so enjoyable, and I loved how they poked fun at the whole I-just-met-you-and-I-love-you-so-let’s-get-married thing that Disney always does. The plot twist at the end also threw me off guard. You may be able to predict the ending of this Disney movie, but the journey towards the ending was unpredictable, which is very rare for a kids film. The songs were also great! My favorites are "Let It Go" and "For the First Time In Forever (Reprise)". Overall, this movie is amazing, and I highly suggest it!

My Top 3 Music Videos

I honestly enjoyed all of the music videos that were shown in class. They were each uniquely creative and artistic. It was a little difficult narrowing my list down to three because all of the videos were amazing. However, my top three favorite are the following:

#3 Mona- ‘Lean Into The Fall’

 

 

I loved how simple the art style is. This music video also presents us with an easy-to-follow story and theme, which was very refreshing considering how many confusing music videos there are. The music itself fit perfectly with the images displayed, and it all flowed nicely. The ending was also very cute and enjoyable.

 

#2 Allaxis - Kaly Live Dub

 

 

The thing I liked most about this video is how well-synced it is. The beat hits perfectly when the character in the car changes into a new persona. Seeing all of the different types of people caught my interest and kept it through the whole time. The ending was also brilliant when the second character in the car turns into the main character behind the wheel. I love how incredibly deep the themes and emotions are in this video.

#1 Sometimes The Stars

 

The art style is gorgeous in this music video, as well as the color palette chosen. The animation was very smooth and felt very professional. I loved the design on our main character. Her wide eyes gave her the impression of innocence, and it added to the story of the lost girl. Her design also kind of reminds of the little sisters in Bioshock. But I really loved the ending of how she finds another lost girl, and they head off together.

 

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

So, I went to the opening of Seven Brides and Seven Brothers last Thursday night, and I had never even heard of this musical before, so I was quite interested. And I have to say that it was very much worth my time because I absolutely loved it!
 

The story is about a backwoodsman named Adam Pontipee who goes to town in search of a wife. He and a girl named Milly agree to marry even though they had met only hours ago. Upon returning to Adam’s cabin in the mountains, Milly is shocked to learn that her husband is one of seven brothers that all live in the same house. The misbehaved, rowdy brothers eventually learn manners and how to treat ladies through Milly’s teachings. And it doesn’t take long before the brothers want wives of their own (of which they kidnap later on).

The kidnapping scene in the musical had me smiling the entire time! I loved how each technique of kidnapping was different for each brother. Another part I really enjoyed was when the girls ran off and both the brothers and townsmen are running around trying to catch them. The musical was hilarious, fun, and even had its own emotional parts. The set was also beautifully designed. Oh, and Sam and Sean’s dancing was fabulous! I loved their reactions when Milly tried to teach them how to dance. Now, I must go watch the movie version of this musical! :)

Beauty Standards

In today’s society, the media has drastically transformed the standards for being considered “beautiful”. These days, size zero is seen as the perfect body type in modeling agencies. The reality is that not many people are born that size nor could they ever really obtain it in a healthy manner. The ideals of beauty have been warped into a false reality where only the skinny people are viewed as attractive. Such ideals are shown immensely through the videos below, where much editing is applied to the already beautiful young women.

 

 

 

The statement that the media is giving us is incredibly wrong, as all shapes and sizes are gorgeous. Whether you’re smaller, larger, or average, everyone is uniquely born and should embrace their differences. However, it is very hard for people, especially teens and young adults, to uphold confidence in their beauty. The media is constantly targeting us with their ads and magazines of which mostly contain photoshopped models and celebrities. They try to convince us that there is such a thing as attaining perfection in your appearance with the clothes and products they sell. But beauty isn’t simply gained through products, hair dye, and tanning beds. Everyone is born perfect the way they are. You don’t need photoshop or manufactured goods to feel good about yourself. It’s very sad that some people really do believe the lies that the media tells them. We should never compare ourselves to others in a way that would make us feel inferior. We need to embrace our uniqueness and celebrate our differences.

 

My Top 10 Disney Movies List

The Walt Disney Studios was founded in 1923, and since then, they have released many different childrens movies. Some of the movies had better reception than others, but a select few of the classics hold a special place in my heart.There are no movies from the 2000s on my list because I wanted to stick with the older ones. The following is my top ten personal list of my favorite Disney movies:

10) Hercules

While this movie tends to not be a favorite of most Disney fans, I found that I actually liked it. The storyline is simple as is the art, but it is a fun movie. Some of the songs, such as “I Can Go the Distance” or “I Won’t Say I’m in Love” are very enjoyable to listen to. I also really enjoyed the villain, Hades, god of the underworld. Hercules does have a few plot hole issues, but it is overall, a very entertaining piece.

9) Mulan

The idea of a Disney female character taking the lead as a warrior is very refreshing, which is one of the reasons why I enjoyed this movie. While I love the Disney princesses, it’s nice to see the company do something different with their head female. This movie has some very memorable songs, such as “Reflection” or “I’ll Make a Man Out of You”. The art style works well with the culture they chose, and the film is quite pretty in it’s own way.

8) The Nightmare Before Christmas

Yes, this is a Disney film, for those of you who didn’t know. Disney released this movie under Touchstone Pictures banner because they were afraid that the film would be too dark for kids, and they wanted to market it properly. Anyways, this is the only non-2D animated film on my list. And even though it’s style is very different from the others, it holds a great uniqueness about it. The songs are all so much fun, as is the storyline. I also love the fact that you can watch this movie at Halloween or Christmas, and it’s still festive at either holiday.

7) The Rescuers Down Under

This sequel to The Rescuers is highly underrated. It is a very fun adventure film with great characters and humor. The storyline itself is very simple, but it’s done with such enjoyable characters that you forget about the simplicity. The best part about this movie is definitely the comedy. Every time I watch this film, it still cracks me up. If you haven’t seen this movie yet, then I highly recommend it.

6) The Little Mermaid

This was probably my favorite Disney movie growing up, as Ariel was also my favorite princess. The movie has some amazing songs and an original plotline. In this film, the art style is actually quite simple with it’s linework when you go back to watch it. The characters are so much fun, and the antagonist, Ursula, has a great villain song. I have always liked this movie, and it will probably always remain on my top Disney movie list.

5) Toy Story

How could you not enjoy this movie? It is so incredibly unique and meaningful. This film connects so well to it’s main audience: children. And this is what makes it so wonderful. It captures the imagination of kids and puts it in the fun new perspective of toys. This movie is a part of a trilogy where the sequels are actually really good, which is incredibly rare for a Disney movie.

4) The Lion King

With its amazing voice acting and songs, this movie is easily one of the best Disney movies of all time. The story is interesting, as well as the character development. This movie also contains the saddest Disney death ever, and every time I watch this scene, it always gets me a little teary eyed. The moral is also really meaningful and incredibly relatable. Overall, it’s a very emotional, funny, and entertaining movie.

3) Beauty and the Beast

This movie is very well-paced, and the characters are very likeable. The songs are also very memorable. Belle is one of the best Disney princesses, and it’s fun to relate to her as she is the “weird” girl in the village. Gaston is one of my favorite villains because he’s fun and threatening as a true villain should be. I also find it interesting how in most other stories, Gaston would be considered the hero and the Beast a villain for entirety of the plot.

2) Aladdin

I really adore this movie, not only because it contains my favorite Disney prince, Aladdin, but it is also fun and adventurous. I enjoyed Robin Williams as the Genie. The storyline is very well-paced, and all the songs are memorable and enjoyable. Also, Jasmine is very favorite Disney princess.

1) The Hunchback of Notre Dame

This movie is absolutely amazing. The music, the art, the characters, the villain. Everything is stunning in this film. While it’s not accurate at all to the true story written by Victor Hugo, its plotline is still very enjoyable. My all-time favorite female Disney character Esmeralda is in this film too. I love all the songs (except the one with the gargoyles because they were the only thing wrong with the movie). It is probably the darkest Disney movie of all time, and that's something I really like about it. It's so gutsy of Disney to incorporate such dark themes into a kids movie.

Feel free to share your Disney top ten lists in the comments! :)

A Feather Tale

Out of the many films we have viewed in Intro to DMA, there is one short movie that really left a big impact upon me. A Feather Tale is such a powerful, meaningful animation that displays a whole slew of emotions in only five minutes. The story is about a woman who is forced take on her lover’s sexual fantasies. His method of handling her is demeaning and leaves her feeling vulnerable. Any form of true love is stripped from their relationship, only leaving the cruel reality of desperation. The poor woman is left to wallow in her nakedness and is constantly disturbed by the bad touches she has experienced. The story of this film is truly heart-wrenching, as the acts symbolized in this movie often occur in real life. It isn’t easy having to experience such tragedy. I know some people that have gone through these kinds of situations, and it’s something that will haunt them for the rest of their lives. Rape is a very touchy subject, and not many people wish to speak about it for the sake of their own discomfort. However, this should be a topic that we are willing to talk about as it is such a huge issue in society today. People that have gone through these kinds of things need help with coping with their pain. One can’t easily adjust to touch again after an incident like that. Being touched again brings up those harsh memories and leaves a feeling of vulnerability and uncleanliness. No matter how much you try to wash yourself, you still feel dirty and weak. A Feather Tale captures all of those emotions perfectly and is truly a piece of artwork. The style of the animation works very well with the message presented, as it mimics the movements of a live action video, which gives a very “real” feeling. Something I also like about this movie was the creativity thrown into the most simple scenes, such as the egg whites for the tears of the woman. Or making the feathers the “clothing” for her. The transitions for the scenes are also fantastic. The one part where you can see the lady’s face on the car wheels or when the little car is driving over her bare body is so symbolic and astounding. Also, the fact that a female animator made this movie makes it even more significant as it also really meant something for its creator. I like feeling that connection between the artwork and the artist. This short film is very much impactful and should definitely be played again for future classes.

The Wonderful World of Memes

For those of you who don’t know what memes are, they are basically “cultural symbols” or “social ideas that spread virally”. Chances are that you have been exposed to a meme whether you know what they are or not. Memes often stem from jokes, human or animals oddities, or urban legends. They most commonly take the form of animation, photos, videos, and music. Most modern memes are also humor-centered and tend to be aimed towards and created by teens or young adults. Ideas such as rage faces, LOLcats, philosoraptor, or the double rainbow are frequently used all over the internet and continue to become more and more popular.

 

The word “meme” was first introduced in 1976 by the evolutionary biologist, Richard Dawkins. It comes from the Greek word “mimema”, which means “something imitated”. Dawkins portrayed memes as a method for people to spread cultural ideas and social memories with one another, which holds similarity to how DNA and life move from place to place. Now that we have the Internet, memes have the ability to travel faster through email, social networks, or YouTube. The community of the Internet has fully embraced this, and even marketing professionals have recognized this. Advertising has also begun to take on memes as means to look trendy and aware of the current generation.

I personally adore memes. They are so much fun to look at because each and every one is unique and hilarious. Memes always brighten up my day! My favorite type of meme is definitely the rage faces though. And if you love memes too, then you should check out this video I found below. It is a giant combination of the older and newer memes (over 40 memes in the video), and it is fantastic! Not only does it have really good editing, the music is high-quality. Enjoy, and go make memes, people!! :D