Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
This doesn't make any sense! You're stuck in a magical fantasy world where you can have anything you've ever wanted, and all you want to do is LEAVE?!
This, I don't understand... But THIS is "Movie Night"!
*theme song plays*
Hello, and welcome to “Movie Night.” I'm your host, Jonathan Paula.
On today's episode, we'll be reviewing two fantasy films, the first of which is brand-new to DVD and Bluray this week...
the 2010 re-telling of Jonathan Swift's classic 1726 novel, "Gulliver's Travels."
Jack Black stars as Gulliver, a hapless Jack Black-esque character who works in the lowly mail room at a New York newspaper.
During a foolish attempt to impress his crush, Darcy, played by Amanda Peet...
Gulliver inadvertently signs himself up for a one-man journey into the Bermuda Triangle for a story.
As is tradition with these types of fantasy films, Gulliver encounters a storm, blacks-out, and wakes up to discover he is a giant on the island of Lilliput.
Besides the names and height-differences between the characters, this latest adaptation of the classic 18th-Century novel isn't particularly faithful to the original.
The effects used to accomplish Gulliver's towering size over his Lilliputian friends aren't very impressive, either...
at times resembling old episodes of “Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers,” just a regular dude walking around a model city.
The humor is what you'd expect from Jack Black, crude and incredibly sophomoric. At one point, in order to save a burning building...
Gulliver just pulls down his pants in front of the entire village, and pisses all over the fire.
Luckily, to off-set this crude humor, the film is littered with clever pop-culture references...
referencing everything from “Titanic,” to “Star Wars,” and “Rock Band,” to name a few.
And, although they feel very out of place in this environment, many of them are funny, so it is forgivable.
The supporting cast includes Emily Blunt, Jason Segel, Billy Connolly, and Chris O'Dowd, all of whom honestly do a much better job...
than Jack Black, even if all of them combined don't really have as much screen-time. The movie plays it safe, however...
sticking closely to formula and the most popular portion of Swift's original work, which is perhaps why the 85-minute film grossed over $200 million at the box office.
It's a familiar and comfortable movie for all ages. Nothing spectacular here- just Jack Black bouncing around, being his goofy self with a bunch of tiny people.
And, honestly, for a lot of people, that might be an entertaining movie. For me, though, this film was far from engaging or impressive.
The only saving grace is Gulliver's relationship with Darcy, which bookends the movie.
Their scenes together are definitely the strongest in the movie, and provide its emotional center.
But sadly, this plotline receives very little time to develop. “Gulliver's Travels”- "Unoriginal and childish, but fun."
Well, that's what I thought of the film. Now, let's see what you had to say about it in the YouTube comments.
Here's the Rate-o-Matic now, to show us how we both scored "Gulliver's Travels."
A “5” and a “6”! This movie was entertaining and a passable way to spend an hour-and-a-half, but the movie isn't anything special.
I thought it was "alright." Mostly agreeing with me, the majority of you really enjoyed Jack Black's goofy humor, while others didn't find the film that memorable. You scored it a "good.”
Our second fantasy film tonight is the cult-classic from 1986, Jim Henson's "Labyrinth."
Starring a young 16-year-old Jennifer Connelly and a curiously cast David Bowie, who spends nearly the entire movie...
wearing a large codpiece, “Labyrinth” is the story of a girl who accidentally vanishes her baby brother to the Goblin Kingdom...
and must spend the rest of the movie solving the riddles and illusions of its mysterious maze to get him back.
Borrowing from stories like “Alice in Wonderland,” “Where the Wild Things Are,” and “The Wizard of Oz,” "Labyrinth" starts off innocently enough...
with our protagonist, Sarah, played by Connelly, enjoying life in the real world. This is until a series of frustration-fueled mistakes lands her inside the Labyrinth...
where she's desperate to get back her brother from the Goblin King, Jareth, played by David Bowie...
who honestly spends most of his time on screen singing his own music and looking downright creepy.
The remainder of the 101-minute runtime is spent following Sarah on her quest through this otherworldly maze...
as she meets friendly creatures along the way, and attempts to solve all of the clues and puzzles laid out before her.
Although it follows an incredibly simple premise, "Labyrinth" is anything but, featuring extremely imaginative visuals, creatures, and effects.
While some of those effects aren't executed very well (for instance, an entire scene is poorly shot in front of a chroma-wall for some reason)...
the Muppeteering work is easily some of Jim Henson's finest, bringing to life hundreds of beasts and trolls brimming with emotion and character.
It makes you wonder why, 25 years later, that Hollywood has abandoned Muppet technology. The creatures rendered out in CGI today don't look half as good.
Bowie wrote five original songs for this film, several of which even get their own musical scene...
complete with the actors and Muppets dancing and jumping up and down to the awesome sounds of vintage Bowie.
As exciting and as upbeat as these scenes are, however, they feel out of place in a film that is otherwise not really a musical.
These days, “Labyrinth” remains a cult favorite with people my age, those who grew up watching this film as a child in the 1980s.
And although it bares little resemblance to the types of Disney and Nickelodeon movies that kids watch these days, it certainly holds up.
It's an energetic, colorful, and hopeful tale about making friends and sticking up for yourself, and definitely the sort of film more youngsters ought to be watching.
While some of the acting may be bad, and the glitter effects terribly overused, this film remains surprisingly fresh 25 years...
after its release, and a worthwhile trip for anyone hoping to get lost in its maze of fun.
"Labyrinth,” an "extravagantly delightful journey for kids."
Well, that's what I thought about the movie. Now, let's see what you had to say in the YouTube comments.
Once again, the Rate-o-Matic, to show us how we scored "Labyrinth.”
A double “8”! At times, this film is really cheesy, but it remains consistently adorable, and you really can't slight a kids’ film for being goofy at times. I thought it was “great.”
You completely agreed, with many of you actually citing this film as one of your childhood favorites. You also gave it a “great.”
But that does it for tonight's films. So, now, let's take a look at what's currently playing in theaters, with some Tweet Critiques.
Remember, if you're going to the movies this weekend, make sure to submit your Twitter review, using the #JPMN hashtag, to have it featured on an upcoming episode.
Next week, we'll be taking a look at two classic war movies, "Apocalypse Now," the 1979 epic...
from director Francis Ford Coppola, and "Saving Private Ryan," the World War II film from 1998 starring Tom Hanks.
As always, I encourage you to buy, rent, or download these films, and then let me know what you think about them by voting in the polls below, or by leaving me a comment review.
Also, in two weeks, for the season two finale of “Movie Night,” we'll be once again examining the best films of all time.
Last year, I shared with you ten of my personal favorites, and on May 6th, I'll be sharing 10 more, but I'd also like to re-highlight some of your favorites, as well.
So, in addition to your reviews about "Saving Private Ryan" and "Apocalypse Now," please comment below with a list of your top-5 favorite movies of all time.
Once again, my name is Jonathan Paula. Thank you for watching “Movie Night.” I hope to see you right back here next Friday!
*end credits play*
*Check out the new microwave episode to see drunk Rapunzel get even more wasted with a hookah!*