The Minority Report - "Wreck-It Ralph" (2012)

I remember spending endless quarters in arcades. I am not old enough to remember the prime time of the arcade cabinet, but instead I was playing the classics with my reminiscing father in the belly of the slow dying beast. It was only a few years ago that the arcade finally closed their doors after years of struggling, but I am still sentimental about playing video games in an arcade. I would like to think that the people who made Wreck-It Ralph were similar to my father and me. People who grew up playing these games, respect these games, and are current with the state of video games and the arcade.

I am not biased positively because I like video games as much as I do. In fact, I view myself as a more skeptical and difficult critic to impress. What is the short verdict? I loved Wreck-it Ralph. This is how you correctly do a video game movie. It’s a story that has many levels, there is an emotional connection between characters, it tackles the bullying issue, and it looks at the presence of arcades in America. All of these issues work with the touching story that tells, unlike the earlier Disney animated movies that came out this year like Brave. I left that movie with a sour taste in my mouth, but Wreck-It Ralph redeemed Disney and left me with perhaps the most entertaining movie of the year, if not one of the best.

The story follows Ralph (voiced by John C. Reilly) who is a villain in his video game, Fix-it Felix, and wants to become a hero. Other video games make appearances in cameos (Qbert, Sonic, Bowser, etc.) and they all interact with the world that Ralph inhabits. He leaves his video game to go into another (a big no-no) to try and achieve greatness. He then goes into Hero’s Duty and causes chaos by dragging the sergeant (Jane Lynch) into the adventure. Afterwards, Ralph finds himself in the kart racing game Sugar Rush—a colorful world that features references to far more than video games. Here, he meets a small lovable girl named Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman), who happens to be a “glitch” in the game. It is the relationship between Ralph and von Schweetz that truly inspires the movie. It’s touching and loving. It may take place in a virtual world, but it hits home in reality.

A surprise to me was the music in the movie. Henry Jackman has a sweeping soundtrack that compliments the films feel and ever changing tones. More current artists (Owl City, Skrillex) also are in the movie, which I do not hate (in fact, for the most part, I enjoyed it). There was one misstep concerning a Rihanna song, which seemed forced. The film is absolutely gorgeous. I saw the movie in 3D, which I enjoy. I feel this movie would be just as good without the 3D, though. The dialogue is intelligent and quick-moving. Overall, it is a clever and creative film that had me crying as well as laughing. The one issue I have with the movie is the ending concerning the chase and final battle. It bugged me because this event seemed too long and its villain seemed too frightening for small children.

“I’m gonna Wreck it!” is a phrase that still brings a smile to my face. This movie is nothing like watching paint dry. The final product is admiral art, just like its subject matter.

By V-Dawg

The Minority Report - "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" (2011)

“If I don’t kill a man every now and then, they forget who I am.”
This was probably one of those movies that was very highly anticipated, as it opened the summer box office. That it did…with a bang: $90.1 million in domestic ticket sales and $256.3 in international ticket sales at the opening box office. It’s no wonder, too, considering it boasted what many girls with eyes glazed over claim is the sexiest pirate ever—Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp). I don’t say “Captain Jack Sparrow,” since he doesn’t deserve to be called so this movie. The 4th installment in the “Pirates” series, seeks to maintain all the charm of its predecessors with a different story. It does a decent job, but obviously still suffers from the aches and pains of being a sequel.

The story revolves around the ever-eccentric Jack Sparrow, who has travelled to London to locate an impersonator that is recruiting a crew for a ship to find the Fountain of Youth. After rescuing his former crewmate, he has an encounter with the king, who offers him a spot aboard a vessel to discover the lost fountain before the Spanish. The expedition will be headed by none other than Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), who has become a privateer since losing the Black Pearl to Blackbeard (Ian McShane). Sparrow declines and escapes to unmask his impostor, who ends up being his ex, Angelica (Penélope Cruz). He ends up on Blackbeard’s ship, in a quest that will pit him against Spain, London, Mermaids, Juan Ponce de León, and Blackbeard, all leading up to the fabled Fountain of Youth.

Jack Sparrow’s quirkiness is still here in full swing, but the true acting prowess and the reason I chose the quote at the beginning is Ian McShane’s Blackbeard. He is the perfect villain. Emanating pure evil, controlling his ship with his sword, and making use of a crew of zombies, the man pulls it off no sweat. Even though the movie can get a bit hectic with the fighting sequences, it is still a fun ride for the beginning of summer. I wouldn’t give it as low a score as it has on Rotten Tomatoes currently, but it is definitely nowhere near as great as its predecessors. The 3D was also definitely not worth it, as there were probably 5 scenes that were noticeably done for the 3D effect. I watched it normally, and can safely tell everyone not to waste their money on it. This movie is like watching paint dry on the many islands and ships of the Caribbean.


By Kulguy

The Minority Report - "Toy Story 3" (2010)

"Quiet musical hog!"
Like the Facebook group says: “Move out of the way, kids! I’ve been waiting for this movie for 11 years!” It is true. Ever since Toy Story 2 came out, there had been rumors of a third installment. As soon as I heard that this movie was coming out, I instantly became excited beyond belief and readied myself for the awesomeness. For some reason, I knew that Pixar wouldn’t let me down. Considering the fact that the previous two movies were pretty much masterpieces, it would not be an easy task to compare, much less top what had already been created.

The basic premise of the movie is that Andy (John Morris), the kid who was a secret protagonist (he owns the toys) in all of the other movies, is leaving for college and has to decide what to do with his old toys, who have been sitting in a chest untouched for many years. Like a typical teenager, he doesn’t want to outwardly show that he still has fond memories of them and doesn’t want to give them away. As of right now, only the main cast of toys remain, as the others have been given away or sold over the years, so Andy decides to store them in the attic instead of throwing them away. His mom mistakes the bag he was carrying them in for trash, and takes it outside, but Woody (Tom Hanks), who was the only toy that Andy decided to take to college, tries to save them. They all manage to escape and think that Andy actually meant to throw them away, so they choose to leave to a daycare called Sunnyside instead, where they will be played with every day. What ensues is an adventure that Woody, Buzz (Tim Allen), Jessie (Joan Cusack), and the gang could not have predicted.

This movie is most definitely the last of the series. It is also most definitely another masterpiece of Pixar craftsmanship. Everything is covered: from depth of character to a plotline that can make the most hardened soul as soft as Lots-O (Ned Beatty) the strawberry-smelling, hugging bear. I had heard from multiple people that it was hard not to cry in the movie and I didn’t believe them. By the end of the movie, after much breathing deeply and attempts at containment, I was crying my eyes out. It is truly a touching story that both delights and saddens. The end gives you a strange sense of heartrending nostalgia, and yet contains an inherent happiness that just aids in the saddening feeling (you will see why). Filled with moments of hilarity and melancholy, this movie is a must-see for people of all ages—you definitely won’t regret it. This movie is not at all like watching paint in the shape of toys dry.

By Kulguy